| Today I wanted to talk about one of our most important nutrients – PROTEIN. Protein is a ‘macronutrient’ that is essential for the following:
1) Hormone production
2) Neurotransmitter production and brain health
3) Immune function
4) Muscle mass
5) Blood sugar control
In my practice, I find that many patients are not obtaining enough protein from their diet. Low protein status is not noticeable in the short-term; however, over the long run, this can be detrimental to your health. If you’re not getting enough protein in your diet, you may want to consider using a protein powder to satisfy your protein requirement. Protein powders can simply be added to water or non-dairy milks (almond/coconut/oat/cashew/etc) and you can also add in vegetables, fruit, flax oil, seeds, and more to make a nutritious meal-replacement smoothie.
There’s a lot of great protein options to choose from, and there isn’t one ‘best’ protein powder out there. Here’s some criteria I look for to help choose a really good protein powder:
1) Quality – I look for companies that do quality control analysis and third party testing on their products for quality and safety assurance.
2) Simplicity – I prefer to select protein powders that have the least amount of ingredients added. This is even more important for anyone with digestive issues or food sensitivities. Make sure the product has little/no sugars or artificial ingredients added. Some protein powders will actually contain only one single ingredient and no flavours, which are an excellent choice.
3) Taste & Texture – If I’m going to have a protein beverage almost every day, it has to taste good! I like protein powders that mix well and don’t feel gritty or clumpy.
I typically recommend the following protein powders because they meet most or all of the criteria above:
1) Whey Protein by KAHA – this is a great-tasting protein powder that mixes well in any liquid. This product has no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no carrageenan, and is non-GMO. This New Zealand (grass-fed) whey protein offers a diverse amino acid profile and is the most bioavailable protein.
2) Pumpkin Seed Protein by New Roots – I like this because it only contains one single ingredient – pumpkin seed! This protein is organic, non-GMO, and suitable for vegans. It has a nice nutty taste, but if you don’t enjoy it then adding fruit will help.
3) Vega One by Vega – this protein powder is delicious! It’s non-GMO, suitable for vegans, and offers 20 grams of plant-based protein. This one violates my ‘simplicity’ criteria, but that’s okay because it’s packed with greens, probiotics, vitamins, minerals, fibre, and more!
Nature’s Emporium carries all of the protein powders listed above and many more. If you would like to assess your protein and dietary needs, just call or email our naturopathic clinic to schedule your appointment!
Dr. Michael Morsillo, H.B.Sc., N.D.
Newmarket Naturopathic Clinic
16655 Yonge St., Newmarket
905-898-1844 ext. 135
dr.morsillo@gmail.com
www.drmorsillo.com |
