Protein Foods

• One way to fight the battle of the bulge is by eating foods rich in protein. Protein rich foods have been found to naturally increase a person’s metabolism
• Foods rich in protein take more energy to digest helping you to achieve a high metabolism
• The following list is comprised of healthy protein rich foods that you can incorporate into your daily food intake to help rev up your metabolic rate

1. Eggs

Eggs are one of the most versatile cooking ingredients and are packed with high quality protein along with other nutrients and vitamins such as essential amino acids, vitamins A and D and Omega 3 fatty acids. If you want to cut calories and fat just cooking the egg whites or using an egg substitute such as eggbeaters is effective.

2. Fish

Fish is an excellent source of lean protein and is high in omega 3 fatty acids, which increases the amount of metabolic enzymes in the body.

3. Chicken

Chicken of the non-Kentucky fried variety has long been the staple of bodybuilding and exercise enthusiasts. One medium chicken breast can be packed with as much as 42 grams of protein and only contain 3 grams of fat.

4. Nuts

Nuts are one of the best plant sources of protein. They are also high in fiber, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats, which are the good fats the body needs. Nuts should be eaten in moderation, as they are high in fat and calories.

5. Beans

Besides being one of the foods rich in protein, beans have several health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, decreasing risk of heart disease and helping control appetite. They really are magical.

6. Lean Meats

Meats have often been given the bad rap when it comes to eating healthy. When eaten in moderation lean meat is an excellent source of protein, amino acids, vitamins B12, B6, Zinc and iron. One lean 4-ounce hamburger patty has around 28 grams of muscle building protein.

7. Yogurt

Yogurt has been proven to have several positive skeletal effects on a person because of the calcium and vitamin D contained in it. Yogurt with active cultures also helps reduce risk and symptoms of gastrointestinal conditions such as diarrhea, colon cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease.

8. Turkey

Often forgotten except at Thanksgiving, turkey is an excellent alternative to red meat, chicken, and pork. One 4-ounce serving of turkey provides 65% of the daily-recommended allowance of protein. It also has about half the saturated fat that red meat has and contains the mineral selenium, which promotes a fast metabolism and immune system health.

9. Peanut Butter

Moms and children everywhere will be applauding this choice on the list of foods rich in protein. Peanut butter is a great tasting way to fill the body with Vitamin E, fiber, iron, magnesium, copper and calcium. Try the low sugar or all natural varieties to maximize the health benefits.

10. Tofu

With vegetarianism on the rise tofu is becoming one of the more popular protein rich foods. Only half a cup of tofu can contain over 20 grams of protein. Because of the amount of soy in tofu there are many health benefits such as lower cholesterol, decreased risk of cancer and blood clotting and much more.

Tags: foods rich in protein, high metabolism, protein rich foods

Posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 10:17 am | Protein Foods