Are protein-enriched food products really good for us?

If you are interested in adding protein to your menu, a short visit to the supermarket will provide you with a variety of options. On the shelves you will find a variety of products enriched with the desired ingredient – from yogurt products to breakfast cereals to meat substitutes. The question arises: do we really need that much protein? Well, let’s sort it out.What is protein?

Protein is one of the nutrients, which is made up of building blocks called amino acids, There are bass”about 20 Amino acids from it 9 They are essential, And this means that we must get them from the diet and we have no ability to produce them independently in the body.

Why do we even need protein?

In fact, every cell in the body is made up of protein. It is essential for building muscle mass, for the function of hormones and enzymes, for maintaining the bone, the immune system and more.

Today it is known that normal muscle tissue can save lives. Many studies done in recent years show that good muscle mass is critical for optimal function – at any age and especially in old age, and contributes to longevity, better immunity against diseases, accidents and falls. In addition, it contributes to metabolism and better utilization of sugars.

How do you get enough protein?

In recent years, the understanding among professionals in the field of nutrition has sharpened, Health and fitness, because we need more protein than we thought so far. To reach optimal muscle mass, it is important to consume a sufficient amount of protein from a quality source, at the right time, in a certain amount per meal and according to body weight. Sound complicated? This is even before we talked about the need for strength training in order for the muscle building itself to be carried out in an optimal way.

How much protein is recommended to consume?

The recommended amount of protein varies according to age, the sports activity we do, our general diet, our goals and our medical condition. As dieters, the approach is always to get the essential components we need first from foods such as: fish, eggs, cheese, tofu or soy drinks and legumes.

Do we need protein-enriched products?

When we get the protein from the whole food, we get a sort of extensive “health package” that also contains minerals, fiber, Antioxidants, vitamins and more. On the other hand, protein products enriched with protein are often processed products, which include a variety of less recommended ingredients such as: salt, sugar preservatives, Stabilizers and more.

If you still decide to consume such a product, I recommend choosing unprocessed yogurt products, which, unlike the other processed products that contain protein, can provide the body with protein from a quality source, Calcium and more, and on the other hand – do not contain less recommended components such as sugar, stabilizers and more.

Bottom line, healthy people who wish to maintain good muscle mass and a stable body weight can certainly be content with consuming fresh and natural food that contains protein. However, those who train with the goal of improving muscle mass, vegetarians, soldiers during training – all of these can certainly consume protein-enriched food products, with an emphasis on yogurt products, in order to reach the optimal amount of protein for them.

Of course, you should always consult a dietitian who can build a menu that is suitable for you and according to your goals.

Adi Bezalel, Senior Clinical Dietitian of the General Hospital in the Jerusalem District