Many people will argue about what is good and bad for you. As an athlete, you may hear simplistic advice like: “carbs are questionable” or “sugar is bad” that you may want to take with a grain of salt. But most people can agree that protein is an important part of a healthy diet. Here are a few benefits of consuming enough protein as an athlete:
Protein is Good for Your Muscles
As an athlete your body needs protein to help repair and strengthen muscle tissue. Typically, enough protein is consumed regularly to avoid deficiencies but the real magic lies in the extra protein.
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Protein Can Boost Your Metabolism
There are many benefits of protein in general but highlighted benefits are that it helps to aid in weight loss and it speeds up metabolic health.
Protein is Satisfying
Other than that, protein makes you fuller, longer. Which will allow for a lower calorie consumption without any restrictions. All the while, you will start losing weight but not sacrificing your muscle mass.
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Health Benefits
High protein intake is also shown to lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol. This will significantly decrease chances of heart attacks, strokes, and chronic kidney disease.
Recovery Boost
Furthermore, protein can help with a faster recovery from an injury. Every athlete's worst nightmare is to get hurt and jeopardize their season. A high protein diet can speed up your recovery process as it forms the main building blocks of your tissues and organs.
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Long-Term benefits
And last but not least, we all have to accept the fact that our bodies will not always function like they did when we were in college. Protein can aid in helping you stay fit as you age. Our muscles are prone to weakening as we get older, protein is the best way to prevent this.
The bottom line is: protein is necessary to athletes and beneficial to various different aspects of your life and body. So chow down on a steak or Greek yogurt parfait after your next workout! Your body deserves it.
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* Originally published on October 5, 2022, by Christie Ackendorf
