Why Protein?
It's a questions we get all the time at Windy City...especially with our 6 Week Kickstart crew. I'm sure you've wondered at times yourself. One of our goals here is to educate you on why we make certain recommendations, so you can move forward and make informed, better decisions on your own. If we can get you to a place where you are letting others know why you do what you do, then we'll be happy. Here's a clear and concise explanation of why we want you to consume protein.
At Windy City, we believe protein is vital to overall health. If possible, every meal you consume should include protein; specifically, some form of animal-based protein (beef, chicken, fish, pork, eggs). There are a few very solid reasons for the protein emphasis, and this is directed at everyone; it's not just specific to athletes.
Thanks to Mike Kesthely of Nova3, one of our nutrition mentors, for capturing exactly why protein is so important.
- TEF (Thermic Effect of Food)
Protein is a very costly macronutrient (protein / carbohydrate / fat) to metabolize; we actually BURN calories digesting it. Therefore, from a "lean-out" perspective, it makes sense to include it at every meal. - Repairing Skeletal Muscle + Tissues
This is an obvious one -- training / exercise creates consistent damage to your muscles and tendons that need to be repaired. - Addition of Lean Body Mass
Another obvious one -- if we tear it down with training, we need the materials to re-build; contrary to popular belief, a "high protein" diet will NOT create big, bulky muscles in women -- the testosterone and other hormones are just not there, as they are in males. Think long and lean. - Satiety
Basically, how "satisfied" your brain is after ingesting it. Eating is completely hormonally driven; fat, carbs, and protein all affect hormonal secretion differently. As far as satiety goes, protein is king -- a little goes a long way; and it's actually physically impossible to over-eat protein. - Fat Storage / Fat Release
No need to go into geeky detail on this one, but I'm going to throw a couple of specific hormones your way; insulin and glucagon. Animal based sources of protein are very amino-acid dense (versus stuff like beans), and cause a greater secretion of glucagon, the "release" hormone. Insulin is the master "storage" hormone. We want release. Hence, we eat animal-based protein -- and not because of any anti-vegan sentiment, but because it's the best source of complete protein we have available. - Displacement of Carbohydrate Ratio
What this means, is, by default, if your protein is high, your carb intake will be shifted lower. 110g of protein is 440 kcals...and a LOT of satiety. If this is dominated with animal-based protein, fat naturally falls into place, and carbs can be partitioned and titrated based on exercise needs.
So, all that said... Go ahead... eat your eggs for breakfast; enjoy ham and turkey at lunch; and your fish or steak for dinner. PROTEIN!
In fact, we're running a promotion on Dream Protein this month...
15% off for the first 10 days in August
Dream Protein is made with an Ultra-Low Temp™ process, which is beneficial because the protein is not denatured (damaged) from an extensive heat treatment. This means that you’ll receive all the essential and non-essential amino acids plus naturally occurring immunoglobulins (which are necessary for proper immune function).
Dream Protein also contains a soluble fiber (FOS) that has been shown to encourage growth of favorable bacteria which help to strengthen the immune system, assist in digestion of food, as well as, to help promote regularity.
Dream Protein Features:
- Contains 20 grams of pure, hormone-free whey protein per serving.
- Also contains Stevia, a calorie-free herb that provides a delicious taste without raising insulin levels.
- Benefits may include boosting the immune system, enhancing energy levels, maintaining lean body mass and managing weight.*
- Comes in 25-oz. container.
Now available in the Windy City Store
Egg photo by Caroline Attwood