Best Sources for Healthy Proteins

Protein is essential to our bodies and our health. Protein is found in our muscles, bones, skin and hair. In fact, protein is found in almost all of our body parts and tissues. So what foods can we eat that are healthy and ensure we get the proper amount of protein daily?

Adults on average need at about 7 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of their body weight. Without proper amounts of protein, our bodies will slowly start breaking down its own tissues. Low levels of protein can also cause loss of muscle mass, growth failure, lowered immunity and problems with your heart and respiratory system.

For years, people thought that to get a descent amount of protein, they would have to eat large amounts of red meat daily. While red meat does indeed have a great deal of protein, it also contains a great deal of saturated fat, which we know is unhealthy for us.

It is important to remember that not all proteins are created equally. While it is possible to obtain your proteins from fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains, the protein in these foods are incomplete proteins. This means that they are lacking of certain amino acids that the body needs in order to build new proteins. Animal proteins on the other hand, are complete proteins and contain all amino acids the body needs in order to build new proteins. It's just a matter of knowing what animal proteins are good for you.

Red meat, such as beef, does contain the highest level of proteins. The important thing to remember is that when choosing red meat, you should choose the leanest meat possible. Just six ounces of lean hamburger meat contains 48.6 grams of protein. However, just because the hamburger contains a healthy amount of protein, does not mean it should be eaten regularly. Red meat also contains high amounts of saturated fat, which is not good for our bodies.