Did you know that protein is one of the essential nutrients that the human body needs to work properly? Your body can’t repair and build tissues without it. Additionally, this nutrient is important for the production of hormones and enzymes. To ensure that your body has enough of it, you have to include high protein foods in your diet, just like the ones that we are about to highlight in this article.
What’s interesting is that we can’t store protein. So, it is not like carbs or fats – what you bring to the systems through food is used right away. In other words, to make sure that there’s enough of this protein, you have to keep eating foods that contain it. By getting familiar with the foods that are rich in this nutrient, you will be able to keep an optimal level of this compound at any time.
- Find out more about the best protein-rich foods
- Learn how to integrate them into your diet
- Get familiar with all the benefits they bring
So, are you ready to add more protein to your diet? Check our ultimate list of tasty foods.
1. Eat more beans and become healthier
Now here’s a good example of a food that’s good for you not just because it contains high amounts of protein, but also because it includes other nutrients. Regardless of the diet that you are following, it should be easy to integrate beans into it. We should also mention that they are rich in fiber. This food makes people avoid food cravings. As you are probably aware, beans can be used as a side dish in many meals.
- Beans are high in many nutrients
- They contain a lot of fiber too
- You can use them as a side dish more frequently
2. Include seafood in your menu
Those of you looking for a good source of protein should not forget seafood. You can use seafood to replace certain types of meat that have been associated with a few things that are negative for your health. Besides, seafood is usually packed with omega-3 fatty acids. They are good for the cardiovascular system. Salmon, trout, oysters, and tuna are some of the best options you have.
- Seafood is loaded with this important macronutrient
- You can replace some meals based on meat with seafood
- Seafood is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids too
3. Consume more dairy products
Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and milk are great for those looking for food rich in protein. It’s worth mentioning that the low-fat option is better than the full-fat. The reason is simple – the number of calories. Don’t forget that dairy products are rich in calcium and some of them have vitamin D too. To get the most from this type of product, you should opt for Greek yogurt.
- Dairy products are always a good solution
- Eat more milk, cheese, and yogurt, but opt for the low-fat varieties
- Greek yogurt is one of the best options
4. Consume more soy
When we say soy, we mean organic soy. This is a food that is packed with protein. Many people use soy as a side dish although there are certain meals where soy is the main ingredient. In any case, there are hundreds of recipes that you can use to integrate soy into your diet. We should also mention that it has a low-calorie count which is obviously a good thing if you want to be healthy.
- Eat more organic soy
- Use it as a side or a main dish
- Soy has a small number of calories
5. Lean beef – a good type of meat
We can’t say that all types of meat are bad for your health. Lean beef is a good example of that especially if you want more protein from your meals. Lean beef doesn’t have too many calories and fat. Besides the macronutrient that appears in lean beef in high amounts, you can also expect to get a decent amount of vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. All these nutrients are great for people who are trying to become healthy.
- Add lean beef to your menu
- This type of meat contains zinc, iron and vitamin B12 too
- It doesn’t have too much fat
6. Eggs – a must-eat food
In case you want to boost the presence of protein in your body, then eggs are a good idea. They represent one of the cheapest solutions for people who want more of this macronutrient. Many experts claim that having an egg a day is a perfectly safe and healthy option. Another thing that’s worth considering is eating egg whites because most of the macronutrients are in this part of the egg which contains no fat and very low-calorie count.
- Eggs are rich in different nutrients including this essential macronutrient
- Egg whites are especially useful
- You can eat an egg a day
7. Nuts – a very healthy and useful snack
Pistachios, almonds, and cashews are some of the nuts that are high in protein and low in calories. Let’s not forget that they contain a good amount of fiber. Next time you want snacks, forget about potato chips and candies – get a handful of nuts.
- Cashews, almonds, and pistachios are good nuts that you can eat for this purpose
- They are a good source of fiber too
- Replace unhealthy snacks with nuts
8. Get some protein bars
The name says it all! If you want more of this macronutrient, you should give these specially designed bars a try. There are dozens of options out there on the market, but only a few of them are actually healthy. So, before you purchase a product like this, you should analyze the label. Look for products that don’t have too much sugar and other potentially harmful ingredients. You might want to read reviews too.
- There are specially designed products for this purpose
- Some of these products are high in sugar and other potentially harmful ingredients
- Read reviews and the label before purchasing bars like this
