The Power of Protein

I often get asked what “diet” I think is best. And my answer may surprise people, but I don’t recommend a particular style of eating or diet trend. It can be overwhelming when you think of the many current popular “diets”- keto, carnivore, paleo, Mediterranean, vegan and so on. Why? Because we are so unique in our physiology, lifestyle and preferences that one diet trend simply will not work for everyone. In my experience, there are positive elements to each of these eating styles, but I would not dictate which style someone should follow. I do, however, believe that regardless of which style of eating you prefer that you should always make protein a priority.

Protein is getting a lot of attention these days, and with good reason- most people don’t know just how important this vital food source is for our longevity, health and well-being. According to Dr. Gabriel Lyon, author of the bestselling book Forever Strong, protein helps to balance blood sugar, improve mental clarity, increase energy, decrease inflammation, improve body composition and reduce cravings.

Virtually any recent health related podcast focuses on the many benefits of adequate protein consumption. And while there are nuances to the topic of protein, there is one constant that stands out. Every thought leader, physician and researcher that I respect and follow agrees on one thing: few people consume enough protein each day. Depending on which “expert” you listen to, their guidance is similar: we should consume 1 gram of protein for every pound of ideal body weight, or a minimum of 100 grams of protein per day. When I ask my clients to track their protein intake for just 3 days they are surprised to see they eat far less protein than they imagined.

And then magic begins to happen. What once felt like a hurdle or impossibility turns into a fun challenge. We collaboratively identify the types of protein they enjoy and ways to fold them into each meal. Whether they eat an animal or plant based diet, after just a few weeks of aiming for at least 30 grams of protein at each meal, they report having more energy, sleeping better, and simply feeling much better. They don’t follow a specific diet, they follow their diet… and it makes us both happy.