How Do You Know if You’re Getting Enough Protein?
The emphasis on protein has not waned over the years—and for good reason. As clinical trials show that consuming more of the macronutrient not only serves a key role in a healthy eating plan, but it also helps you feel nourished, satisfied, and energized. Even so, it can be difficult to know how much to consume. Fortunately, there are signs you’re not getting enough protein.
But first, what is a protein? It’s made up of amino acids, which Cara Harbstreet, M.S., R.D., L.D., a registered dietitian and owner of Street Smart Nutrition, previously called the “building blocks of life.” The National Library of Medicine explains that proteins are big, complex molecules that do so many important things in the body, including most of the work in the cells, and they “are necessary for the structure, function, and regulation of our body’s tissues and organs.”
While there are different signs that you’re not getting enough protein, there is one that will give it away. Ahead, dietitians explain what to look for, plus how to get more protein in your diet.
Excerpted from Prevention
