Varying Your Protein Sources

The importance of protein in your diet is something I continually stress. It fuels, and rebuilds your muscles as well as ignites your metabolism.

A common mistake people make however is when they become too married to their protein sources.  A common example is when people rely solely on protein drinks or bars. These are good from a convenience standpoint, and for those who it applies to, can be particularly beneficial post workout as whey protein mixes are absorbed by your body quickly. These should not however be the only substantial source of protein in your diet.

You ideally want to have protein in every one of your meals throughout the day continually fueling not only your muscles, but your metabolism as well. Most protein supplements are meant to be fast acting. For those who have just worked out. The protein is released into your system, and is only doing it’s job for a limited time. Protein that comes from food is released slower over time as it is digested. You want that continual release of protein especially overnight when you sleep, as that is when your body does the majority of it’s healing and growing.

Your body is built to adapt, and this applies to how it reacts to chemicals, and nutrients. Just like you can build a tolerance to alcohol, or caffeine, your body can build up an adaptation to a protein source, and it then begins to lose it’s effect on you. So, if chicken was your only protein source… over time it would begin to have a weaker, lesser effect on you.

The challenge for some can come in the form of personal likes/dislikes. Some people don’t like fish, or chicken. This can be a limiting factor for some. It’s one less source for them to utilize. I personally take in 5 to 6 different sources of protein a day. That doesn’t mean you have to, but you just don’t want to become too routine in what you eat. While I enjoy fish, I am admittedly not that good at preparing it, and therefore it is a limiting factor for me. It’s something I eat when I go out.

An example of where my protein might come from in a day is as follows… I’ll have a whey protein drink in the morning post-workout, turkey at lunch, tuna mid afternoon, chicken for dinner, and a casein protein drink before bed. I don’t do this routine every single day. It changes, but as you can see, meal to meal I’m varying where my protein comes from. If you are even taking in protein from 3 different sources a day you’re doing well. The point is to always remain conscious of it and not fall into a routine.

This is something I monitor in my client’s diets, and is something you should too to stay progressive in your health and fitness goals.