The importance of Protein!

Looking for some tips to rev up your metabolism and get rid of that belly fat?

1. Start the day with protein.  Try whole omega-3 eggs or a protein shake. Skip the bagels, muffins and donuts.
2. Skip the sugar and flour – in all of its forms. Especially liquid calories from any source (soda, juice, alcohol) all of which store belly fat. Try to get high fructose corn syrup out of your diet.  Wheat flour is just like sugar –  2 slices of whole wheat bread raises your blood sugar more than 2 tablespoons of table sugar.
3. Protein, Protein, Protein  – try nuts like almonds, walnuts or pecans, seeds like pumpkin, chia or hemp or have beans, chicken or fish.

And still unsure of what protein shakes are right for you?!?!  Dr. Mark Hyman has a few tips to help find the best protein power.  Here are his suggestions:

1. Opt for plant-based protein powders made with hypoallergenic ingredients such as hemp, rice or pea (or even a combo). Specifically, avoid whey protein (a common ingredient in many health store protein powders) unless you are certain that you tolerate dairy.  Most whey protein is denatured and sweetened and thus, biologically ineffective.  If a product has whey in it, be sure to look for “whey protein concentrate” and avoid whey in its isolate form.

2. Low toxicity. Ensure your protein powder is third party certified stating the product is low in heavy metals and toxic residue.  You can verify your protein powder is high quality by looking for a GMP label certifying that the product was manufactured in a facility adhering to proper industry production standards.

3. Pure and Simple. Protein powder doesn’t have to come all dazzled up with extra reinforcements such as probiotics, green or red plant powders, vitamins, fats or super nutrients.  Often, product manufacturers make the consumer feel like they are getting greater value by listing a whole bunch of additives.  The truth is that the minute amount and the quality of these added ingredients render them therapeutically ineffectual.  So keep it simple and pure – just buy the simplest protein and save the other stuff for your REAL food.

4. There should be only one ingredient in your protein powder – the source of protein.  There should be no additional sweeteners or flavorings.   If all you can find is sweetened powders, then look for one that uses REAL sugar as the sweetener.  When reading the label, look for these ingredients:  real vanilla (or chocolate), and real cane sugar.  Avoid products that list “natural flavoring,” high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose.  Additionally, avoid any ingredient that ends in “ol” such as –  sorbitol, maltitol, erythritol or xylitol.  Bottom line – a little added sugar is fine but again – keep it real!

Give us a call today if you have any questions regarding your protein powders!