Living a healthy lifestyle is not about strict diet limitations, trying to be unrealistically thin or depriving yourself of the foods you love. For me, it’s all about feeling great, having more energy, improving my outlook on life and stabilising my mood.
There is some very overwhelming and conflicting diet advice out there, don’t be discouraged, you’re not alone.
Let me help you cut thought all this confusion and learn how to create a healthier lifestyle that is good for mind and body.
Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain weight, build muscle, become fitter, feel better, feel stronger, have more energy, check out these tips to help achieve a healthier improved you.
Protein is the foundation of every vital function in the body, so it must be included with every meal. Eating Protein isn’t going to bulk you out. Eating adequate amounts of protein will help shape and tone your muscle in your body, lower your body fat and support your metabolic system.
You should include lean, complete protein sources to your daily diet like meat, beans, seafood, full fat organic dairy, hemp seeds and good quality protein powders.
As I said above, they should be eaten with every meal.
For women, your protein portion with each meal should be roughly the size of your palm and for men roughly double that so the size of 2 palms.
You want to choose the best quality, leanest source you can afford.
Protein is more satiating than carbs or fat so will help you feel fuller, plus it’s a vital nutrient to help support, maintain and repair a healthy body. It can also boost your metabolic rate. Animal proteins are generally complete proteins but some plant based diets can be incomplete so you will need to eat a variety to get your full amino acid needs.
You can supplement your protein needs, if finding it hard to get your intake with a good quality protein powder.
How much Protein do you need?
1g per lb/2.2g per kg of bodyweight.
What should you look for when buying protein powder:
- Is it a complete protein?
- Is it sweetened? If so what with? (Avoid sugars and words ending in ‘ose’!)
- Is it organic?
- Is it a certified product?
**If you answered any of these questions with NO, then I would avoid **
- Does it say ‘meal replacement’ or similar in the label?
- Does it contain any preservatives?
- Does it include any ingredients you can’t spell or pronounce?
**If you answered YES to any of these questions, then I would avoid**
I am not suggesting to replace ‘real’ food with supplements, but they are a great way to compliment a healthy, balanced diet.
My favourite Protein Powder, I use daily with Good Hemp unsweetened hemp drink:
You can buy Good Hemp Foods via their website directly or amazon is another great place to find it!
Good Hemp
Whether you’re looking to fuel and repair your muscles after exercise, add hemp protein to your plant-based diet or simply start the day with a tasty shake, Good Hemp Protein Powders packs a punch. All of their hemp protein blends are natural, allergen-free and easy to digest. Good Hemp, pure hemp protein variety has a whopping 75% protein, while our raw hemp protein version has 50% protein plus added fibre. Oh, and there’s also a natural strawberry flavour too for our hemp protein.
Why go with hemp protein?
In short, because it’s complete. That basically means that hemp protein contains all 20 amino acids our bodies require for optimal health (including the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce themselves).
Good Hemp Protein Info Page
I also like to supplement my daily protein shake or smoothie with this amazing Pink Superfood Powder from New Gen Direct.
MORE ABOUT NEWGEN SUPERFOODS PLUS – (Info taken from NewGen website)
Our enhanced revolutionary all-in-one food supplement contains an extensive range of raw wholefood certified organic fruits, veggies, seeds, grains, protein, fibre, grasses, greens, sprouts, plus antioxidants, minerals, 15+ billion dairy-free friendly bacteria, fruit extracts and digestive enzymes.
As featured extensively in the British press, NewGen Superfoods Plus is a cutting-edge food supplement, manufactured to the highest industry standards, replacing the need for many different products. It is 100% natural, with no synthetic nutrients.
There are no capsules or tablets to consume, the powder is easy to mix with liquid or with food and it is vegetarian & vegan friendly. Our formula is free from gluten, soya, whey, dairy and GMO ingredients.
NewGen Direct Product Info Page.
Collagen Protein:
I also like to add daily to my drinking water, Collagen Protein and here is why:
Protein is the second most plentiful substance in the body (after water).
It is needed for the growth and repair of every cell in the body. Up to 40% of the body is made up of connective tissue, 70% of the connective tissue is collagen. Protein is naturally considered the building blocks of the metabolism.
Collagen is the protein that forms connective fibres in tissues
such as skin, ligaments, cartilage and bones. Collagen also acts as a kind of intracellular glue that gives support, shape and bulk to blood vessels, bones, and organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver. Collagen is also required for the repair of blood vessels, bruises and broken bones.
Collagen Hydrolysate is unique in its amino acid structure because of its high amounts of glycine and proline, which are found in lower amounts in other protein food supplements.
After the age of 25 the body’s natural ability to produce the amino acids diminishes, but can be easily obtained from adding collagen protein to the diet.
Both cartilage and bone in joints are subject to continual physical stress
and are constantly being broken down and replaced.
When a person does not have enough raw materials in their diet to combat the collagen breakdown, the joints begin to wear out.
Continuous daily intake of Collagen Hydrolysate, 2 tablespoons (12 g) morning and evening, may benefit nails, hair, skin, ligaments, tendons and cartilage.
The sustained use of hydrolysed collagen has been reported to have
beneficial effects on other connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, cartilage, joints and bone. Cartilage that covers the surface of joints is composed of cells called chondrocytes that are embedded in an extracellular matrix that contains collagen fibres and other molecules that are linked into an integrated network with hyaluronic acid.
Joint degeneration due to excessive wear and tear is a major problem in athletes
Damage occurs with excessive stress on major joints from occupational activities that involve repetitive motion.
Hydrolysed collagen may be an effective supportive nutrient for individuals with osteoarthritis and osteoporosis; and its level of safety makes it attractive as an agent for long term use in these chronic disorders.
I get mine from Amazon.
Thank you for taking the time to read today and I’d love to hear your thoughts on Protein and my favourite Protein Powders and Superfood Supplements, if anything takes ya fancy give it a try as everything I have recommended here is fab.
You’re Flawsome!
Lots of love,
Jem xoxo
P.S. Have you checked out my quick and easy meal plans or recipe books yet?
Helpful Link:
FLAWSOME JEM PRODUCTS
** DISCLAIMER **
I am not a dietician or a doctor. The ideas suggested here, are intended to be used for educational purposes only based on my own personal experiences. The author ‘Jemma Stevens’ ‘Flawsome Jem’, is not rendering medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat, any disease, condition, injury or illness.
It is imperative before beginning any exercise or nutrition programme, that you receive full medical clearance from your GP (doctor/physician).
Flawsome Jem and Jemma Stevens, claim no responsibility for any person or entity, for any liability, loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the materials presented here.
Please understand there are some links, that I may benefit from financially.
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Flawsome Jem (c) 2019.