FIVE SIGNS YOU'RE LACKING IN PROTEIN BY MISS NUTRITIONIST

I'm ALWAYS harping on about protein because it is really important for energy management, producing all the hormones in your body, recovery and much more. Most people I see in my clinic are not eating enough protein. You need a gram of protein per kilo of body weight. So if you weigh 60 kilos you need to eat 60 grams of protein.

How do you know if you're eating enough? Here are my top 5 signs you are lacking in it:

1) You have low energy and suffer from fatigue.
You need to be eating protein at every meal and snack to keep your blood sugar levels on a nice even keel and therefore provide you with sustainable energy every day.

2) Food cravings.
Protein keeps us full and takes 4 hours to breakdown in the gut. If you are not eating protein at every meal and snack it can lead to cravings. Most people are eating too many carbohydrates which is causing blood sugar spikes and dips.

3) Your muscles feel weak and you have poor workout recovery.
Everyone knows that protein is needed to build new muscle mass. A low protein diet can result in muscle wasting.

4) Thin hair and weak nails.
If you want super strong and healthy nails it's all about the protein! It's literally food for these.

5) You feel anxious and moody.
Amino acids are the building blocks for neurotransmitters which control your mood. Proteins help the brain produce hormones like dopamine and serotonin that help bring on positive feelings like calm, excitement and positivity.

Where can I get quality protein from?
Lots of places! The best sources are chicken, fish, lean meats, eggs, quinoa, chickpeas, lentils and protein powders such as Protein World.