Protein is good for your muscles, reduces hunger pangs, boosts metabolism, helps your body repair from injury and is an important source of essential amino acids. “Protein is a key part of any diet,” says Nicole Dynan, director of The Good Nutrition Co. “It is needed for healthy muscle, skin, bone and hair, and is used to make hormones and enzymes that assist with many functions in our body.”
Dig a little deeper, though, and it starts to feel more complicated. Should we choose animal or plant proteins? Are we getting enough? How much is too much?
“Overwhelmingly, the evidence suggests that the source of protein, whether animal or plant, rather than the amount of protein we eat, is the likely factor that makes a difference to our health,”
