October 2018 Issue #22 October 2018 Issue #22 | Page 68

Health & Fitness
The Best Protein Sources For Men With
An Appetite
It’s the building blockof our bodies, but wiich protein source
pack the beefiest benefits?
These days, everything from yoghurts to cereal wears its protein content on the front of
the package, like a badge of honour. With sugar outlawed, fat up in the air, and carbs
only just making a comeback, it has become extremely easy to equate ‘protein’ with
‘wellness’.
Never mind the fact that often protein powders and celeb-endorsed protein balls are
loaded with sugar. Or the fact that, for your additional protein intake to be of any action-
able use, it needs to be combined with at least a base level of exercise. Or, crucially,
the fact that too much protein is just as bad for the body as too much of any other nutri-
ent. And that’s before we’ve even considered that not all proteins are created equally.
Consider this, then, your guide to what’s worth filling up your shopping basket with, and
what should stay shelved. From a carnivore’s dream platter to a vegan lifter’s heavy-
weight dinner, these are the best sources of protein known to man. But first, we need to
get a few things straight…
What Exactly Is Protein? And Why Do I Need It?
“Proteins are nitrogen-containing substances that are formed from amino acids,” be-
gins Harley Street nutritionist extraordinaire, Rhiannon Lambert. “They form a major
structural component of muscle and tissue and are further used for many other pro-
cesses within the body such as hormone and enzyme production.”
Which sounds… complicated.
“Protein is one of the three most important nutrients that your body needs in order to
function correctly. It ensures healthy muscle growth and also works to produce hor-
mones,” explains Valentin Raigué, a nutritionist working with online personal training
app FizzUp. Which clears things up a bit.
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