Protein is an important macronutrient that should be part of everyone's diet. This essential nutrient helps keep you feeling strong, full and energized throughout the day. But how much protein do you need? And which high-protein foods are best to eat? "Protein is a macronutrient, meaning we need fairly large amounts to maintain health," Julia Zumpano, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic, tells TODAY.
com. If you don't eat enough protein, you might notice frequent muscle fatigue, difficulty building muscle, weak and brittle nails or dry and dull hair, Zumpano says. And you may find yourself feeling hungry frequently.
"Protein is really satisfying," Zumpano explains. So if you're hungry all the time, even though you're eating enough calories, that may be a sign that you need to eat more protein. Beyond that, protein is made up of amino acids, which “do so much in our bodies,” Caroline Susie, a registered dietitian based in Dallas, Texas, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.
com. They repair muscle and tissue and help build muscle, bones and cartilage, Susie says. Amino acids also play a role in metabolic reactions in the body and immune system health, she adds.
Luckily, there are plenty of high-protein foods to choose from that are the building blocks of exciting, satisfying and delicious meals. Unlike the days of the low-fat diet craze, people are generally more conscious of the need for protein nowadays, Zumpano says. "But mos.
