People are becoming increasingly aware of the amount of protein they consume daily, and it's especially important if you're going to the gym or you’re exercising regularly
While far from the only thing you should consider as part of a healthy diet, protein is one of the core components of a balanced lifestyle, and you don't necessarily need to opt for the traditional means to source it if you do enough research.
One look through a supermarket these days, and you'll find plenty of different foods that are 'boosted' with extra protein, including even things like yoghurt and bread. Still, that might leave you wondering what the much-discussed component actually does to your body when consumed in high volumes.
Thankfully, YouTube channel The Infographics Show has come to the rescue, as its fascinating simulation outlines the process in great detail, revealing how high-protein diets transform your body and physique.
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Medical experts recommend or suggest that the average consumption of protein each day should be around 56 grams for men and approximately 46 grams for women, but many people looking to bulk up go beyond that point, and it very much depends on your weight.
While a common myth is that eating protein increases your muscle size, the video explains that the amount of protein within your diet impacts your muscles in a number of different ways.
It not only helps maintain muscle mass and promote growth, but it also helps with weight loss, which is definitely a positive for those striving towards a lower body-fat percentage.
Eating a high-protein diet without exercise won't magically make you grow muscles, for example, but combining the two has proven to be a winning combination and something that many people seek out.
Not all protein is created equal, as The Infographics Show urges people to be smart about the types of protein that they're eating — even if it might seem like they're getting 'less' of a benefit overall.
It's incredibly important to maintain a balanced diet, so cutting out other key food groups can lead to issues with your nutrition, and opting to exclusively find your protein in red meat and high-fat dairy products is also going to increase the risk of developing health issues like heart disease down the line.
The video recommends opting for either fish or poultry for a good source of protein, and one surprising option is to eat crickets, as they contain around 60 grams of protein for every 100 grams of the insect.
This could become a more prominent option for people in the coming years, especially as the environmental impact of crickets is comparatively far lower than that of other popular sources, although it does require people to get over the stigma of eating insects.
You do need to be careful about consuming too much protein, as that can lead to kidney stones, and anyone who has suffered from them in the past will provide an incredibly painful reason why this is something you'll want to avoid.
Like most advice with food, it's all about balance, so while eating a high-protein diet is recommended for some, it all goes back to how you live your life, where you're sourcing the protein, and how far you go with it all.