Healthy Sources Of Protein And Why You Should Eat More Of It
As a college student, it’s important you get all the nutrients you need for your mind and body to work properly. One key nutrient that’s been spoken more and more about over recent years is, of course, protein. Protein is a nutrient that your body requires in order to grow and repair cells. It’s found in a wide range of foods and it’s important to eat enough of it every day. Naturally, the amount each person needs differs according to weight, gender, age, and general health. Getting enough protein can be done with a wide variety of foods. Don’t worry if you have certain dietary restrictions – protein comes in both plant and animal sources, so if you can’t eat one, you have the other. For all you vegetarians and vegans, make sure to eat a wide variety of foods to get the protein you need. For instance, a meal that contains cereals and legumes, like baked beans on toast, provides all the essential amino acids that can be found in a meat dish. So, which foods contain a lot of protein?
Eggs
Whole eggs, despite their bad reputation, are actually one of the healthiest and most nutritious foods around. A great source of vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, antioxidants, and brain nutrients, they’re high in protein. In fact, egg whites are almost entirely pure protein. One large egg has roughly 6 grams of protein and 78 calories.
Almonds
The popular tree nuts are a fan-favorite for a reason. It’s rich in essential nutrients including fiber, vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. As you’ve guessed, this nut has a lot of protein as well. One ounce of almonds contains about 6 grams of protein and is 164 calories.
Chicken Breast
One of the most popular protein-rich foods, chicken breast, when eaten without the skin, is almost completely protein. It’s also very easy to cook and is very versatile, making it a good choice when you’re looking for variety. One roasted chicken breast without skin has 53 grams of protein and is only 284 calories.
Oats
Oats are among the healthiest grains around. They have healthy fibers, magnesium, manganese, thiamine (vitamin B1), and many other nutrients. One cup of oats contains 11 grams of protein and is 307 calories.
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is low in fat and calories, but it has a whole lot to offer. It’s rich in calcium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B12, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and other key nutrients we all need. One cup of cottage cheese contains 28 grams of protein and is only 168 calories.
Broccoli
You probably didn’t expect to see this vegetable on the list, but here we are. Broccoli has a lot of vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, and potassium. It provides nutrients that may even help protect the body against cancer. And compared to most vegetables, it’s high in protein. One cup of broccoli has 3 grams of protein and is only 31 calories.
Quinoa
This pseudo-cereal is considered to be a superfood – and for good reason. It has plenty of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Just one cup of cooked quinoa has 8 grams of protein and is 222 calories.
