The Power of Protein

Protein is considered by sports scientists to be a vital nutrient to develop and maintain lean muscle.

Protein is a vital nutrient that your body needs every day. Carbohydrates provide your body with energy, while protein helps your body to develop lean muscle and helps your muscles to recover and repair more quickly after exercise.

Foods high in protein include fish, eggs, chicken, turkey, dairy products (such as milk and cheese), beef and soya.

A lack of quality protein will result in loss of muscle tissue and tone and slower recovery. If your goal is to put on muscle, make sure you eat enough protein.

If you don't get enough protein in your diet, then your body breaks down its own muscle to get the protein and convert it into a source of energy (sort of cannibalism), a situation that for sure you want to avoid when looking for building lean muscle mass and tone.

The recommended protein intake for athletes wanting to put on lean muscle is 2-3 g of protein per Kg of bodyweight. So, if you weigh 80 Kgs, your daily protein intake should be between 160 and 240 grams.

When you are on a high-protein diet, make sure you drink plenty of water - at least 2.5-3 liters per day - in order not to put any unwanted stress on your kidneys.