What does protein do?

WHAT DOES IT DO?

At the moment, the EU officially only approves claims that protein supports muscle mass maintenance and growth, and maintenance of bones. Research does show though that eating protein in the right amounts for your body, age and lifestyle may have several additional health benefits. As a building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, tendons and ligaments, protein is an important component of every cell in the body. Protein is also used to produce hormones, enzymes and immune-system components. Without protein, the body cannot put together the structures that make up its tissues and organs.

Protein can be particularly important around exercise, since activities such as strength training purposefully damage muscle tissues. Research shows that consuming protein before and after exercise may help support many aspects of muscle recovery. Without an adequate amount of protein, our body would not be able to renew as quickly after exercise, which could eventually result in overtraining and injury. Equally, a varied high-protein diet, balanced to provide all the nutrients you need in the right amounts, may help you recover faster from injury and reduce muscle loss.

Protein as part of a balanced lifestyle also supports a health immune system and may aid in weight management, as it has been shown to reduce hunger and increase metabolic rate in multiple published studies. Additionally, increased lean body mass can help boost your metabolism and help burn calories.