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Saturday, June 7, 2008

Spread Out (and mix up) Your Protein Sources


I'm often asked how I feel about supplements, especially protein. As a general rule, I try to get all my nutrients from dietary sources, rather than supplements. Why? Here are three good reasons:


1. The body absorbs and assimilates nutrients better if they come in the form of food.

2. You're much less likely to have excessive intakes of particular nutrients this way.

3. There are almost always complimentary nutrients in the foods rich in other nutrients.


Protein is a good example of #3. Meat sources are generally a great source of iron, while dairy sources tend to be rich in vitamin D and calcium. Soy is a great source of phytonutrients (chemicals believed to fight conditions like heart disease and promote general good health).


Besides, with taste and texture variations, you're more likely to consume a variety of foods than to be limited to just a few.


Additionally, it's a good idea to spread protein sources out evenly through the day. This helps stabilize blood sugar and keeps the new protein available for the body to use it as it needs it for production and maintenance of muscle, bones, skin, cartilage and blood.





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