Protein is essential for your body to function properly. And while you probably eat protein every day – there’s a good chance you’re not getting enough good quality protein.

So how do you know if you’re getting enough?

Here’s a little list of some of the most common signs or symptoms that might pop up if you’re not eating enough protein in your day.

1 – Fatigue and weakness
Protein foods are digested slowly which can help regulate your blood sugar levels. Eating sugars and carbohydrates without protein to balance them out can cause spikes and crashes in your blood sugar levels, which lead to fatigue, but eating adequate protein throughout the day will prevent that from happening

Protein is also needed for your muscles to repair and maintain themselves. Not getting enough protein can lead to muscle weakness and overall fatigue.

2 – Craving sweets and carbs
Not eating enough protein can cause you to crave sugary and carbohydrate-rich foods. Along with its role in helping to stabilise blood sugar levels, protein can help promote satiety – or a feeling of fullness after eating.

Protein also helps to boost dopamine levels (which is the chemical that makes you feel good – and is often increased after eating sugar), and is needed for the body to make the hormone that controls your appetite for carbs.

3 – Mood imbalances and anxiety
Protein is essential for mental wellness. Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are needed for your body to make neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.

These neurotransmitters regulate mood, emotions, and cognitive functions. Not eating enough protein can lead to imbalances in these neurotransmitters, which can potentially lead to mood imbalances and anxiety.

4 – Poor immune function
Finding that you’re catching everything that’s going around, or you’re always sick? You might need to look at how much protein you’re eating.

Protein is needed for your body to make antibodies and immune cells. Not eating enough protein can impair your immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.

5 – Irregular menstrual cycles
Protein provides your body with amino acids – which are one of the building blocks for some hormones that your body produces – including the ones that are involved in regulating your menstrual cycle.

Not getting enough protein can have an impact on hormonal balance, potentially leading to irregular menstrual cycles.

6 – Hair, skin, or nail issues
Your hair, skin and nails are made up primarily of elastin, collagen and keratin – which are all (you guessed it!) protein. Not eating enough protein can lead to things like fragile hair and hair loss, red and flaky skin, and dry and brittle nails.

7 – Difficulty Losing Weight
If you’re having trouble losing weight it might help to look at how much protein you eat.  Protein plays a role in satiety (or feeling full after eating), it helps to control appetite and reduce overall calorie intake. Its role in cravings for sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods can also play a role in weight management.

Getting enough protein is necessary for so many functions in the body, and it’s one of those things that’s pretty easy to fix. So – are any of these areas an issue for you at the moment? If they are – try increasing your protein intake – let me know if it helps

C
xx