n the hustle and bustle of midlife, finding time to prioritise nutrition can be challenging. However, by focusing on nutrient-dense foods, busy midlife men can fuel their bodies with the essential nutrients needed to thrive amidst hectic schedules.
In this blog post, we'll explore the concept of nutrient density and highlight the top 10 most nutrient-dense foods to incorporate into your diet.
Are you tired of feeling sluggish and battling stubborn belly fat?
Do you constantly crave snacks and struggle to maintain steady energy levels throughout the day?
If so, it might be time to take a closer look at your nutrition, and there's no better place to start than with protein.
Protein isn't just for bodybuilders or fitness fanatics – it's a crucial nutrient for everyone, especially men in midlife looking to reclaim their vitality and shed those extra pounds.
Let's dive into the science behind protein leverage and why making it a priority in your diet can be a game-changer for your health and well-being.
In the dynamic world of human biology, there's a microscopic hero that holds the reins of our energy levels and overall vitality: mitochondria.
These powerhouse structures, often hailed as the "energy factories of the cell," work tirelessly to transform the calories we consume from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins into usable energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
But here's the fascinating part – a significant chunk of these cellular powerhouses resides in our muscles.
In today's world, where concerns about sustainability and environmental impact are at the forefront, the conversation around food choices has become increasingly important.
While mono-cropping has long been the norm in industrial agriculture, regenerative farming offers a compelling alternative that prioritises environmental health and resilience, especially in the context of livestock production.
In this blog post, we'll explore the differences between these two agricultural methods and challenge the misconception that a vegan diet is the only solution to environmental concerns.
Protein isn't just about building muscles; it's about building a strong and healthy gut.
Protein is one of the primary building blocks for all cells in the human body, including your gut cells. Even gut probiotics are made of protein.
Research has shown that both the amino acid balance and digestibility of dietary protein are primary factors contributing to gut microbes' composition, structure, and function. [1]
If you live in Australia, you’d think that protein malnutrition couldn’t exist. But many people in their midlife aren't eating enough protein, especially with trendy vegan and vegetarian diets on the rise.
It's scary how many people in their midlife think they should eat less protein. But the truth is we should be eating more.
When working with health coaching clients, one of the first questions I often get is, “Where should I start with my diet so I can feel better, have more energy and keep up with my kids?"
The answer to that question is protein.
As we age, protein becomes even more valuable because it plays a crucial role in our health and longevity.
As we age, we start to pay more attention to our health. Health, happiness and longevity seem to climb our list of values, especially when we have a family to care for.
This new outlook on our values makes us question what type of diet we should eat.
This leads to the question of how much protein I should eat.
Protein recommendations can vary based on individual factors such as age, sex, weight, activity level, health and fitness goals, and overall health.
Sometimes, we make the mistake of thinking we need to eat less as we age.
We all know that eating protein can help you lose body fat and increase your fat-free-mass. But research has also shown that a high-protein diet can reduce food cravings, help you eat less, improve your recovery, balance your hormones, reduce inflammation, regulate your metabolism, and reduce impulsivity.
We have made the mistake of thinking we only need 50-60grams of protein per day for far too long. When scientists first started focusing on protein intake, they looked at the amount of protein we human need to prevent malnutrition. The recommended dietary allowances (RDA’s) were formed on the minimum amount of protein we need to survive, but not what we need to recover, build and maintain fat-free mass, increase strength and power, lose body fat thrive.
If you’re chronically stressed, your fat-free-mass literally start to break down. Stress researchers call this wear and tear allostatic load. The fat-free-mass breakdown is caused in part by collagen proteins being used faster than they can be replaced. More preliminary research suggests that chronic stress may also contribute to obesity through direct mechanisms (causing people to eat more unhealthy foods) or indirectly (decreasing sleep, decreased exercise tolerance, blood sugar management issues).
The two main factors that control the size of your furnace are what you eat and how you exercise. In the previous blog post, I said "protein is the key ingredient to building the components that make up your furnace. It's important to note that your body prefers to not use carbohydrates and fats as the fuel that burns inside the furnace. The body preferentially breaks down carbohydrates first, and then fats and finally proteins only if the other two fuels are depleted. This is important as proteins are generally less efficient at generating energy. In addition, proteins perform several important functions so if they were broken down several systems could fail."
Both the quality and quantity of protein has a key role to play in building and maintain the size of your furnace.
Before we start to digest the juicy protein details I want to take moment to debunk the "calories in and calories out" equation.
