Your body may need quite a bit more protein than you are giving it. I’m not talking about adopting a keto or carnivore diet, but you need protein along with complex carbohydrates and healthy fats to thrive.
Every cell in your body contains protein, and it fulfills many different roles in the body. Since the body does not store protein, it depends on your diet to provide adequate amounts. Many women I know are not getting nearly enough protein even if they think they are.
So, how much protein do you need? Well, it depends. Let’s look at what your body needs and explore the healthiest ways to get this protein.
Why is Protein Important
Protein contains amino acids that are used to repair all the tissues in your body. You may think about your muscles needing protein (which they do), but in reality all of your systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, etc.) need protein.
In a very real way, protein is one of the building blocks to a healthy and strong body. According to livestrong.com, protein actually helps “build muscles, produce new cells, regulate hormones and enzymes, heal wounds, and promote immune function”.
It is considered the most important macronutrient in building muscle, which can elevate your metabolic rate. And since protein also helps you feel full longer, it is great for those wanting to lose weight.
How Much Protein I Need: The Simple Way
Your protein needs are individual; there is no one-size-fits all measurement. Typically, you need .8g-1g per lb. of body weight, but this will of course depend on your activity level and your body mass index (BMI).
Here is an example of using this method to figure out the protein needs of someone weighing 160lbs.
.8g x 160lbs. = 128g of protein to 1g x 160 lbs. = 160g of protein
So, an 160 lb. person would need approximately 128-160 grams. That is a lot of protein!
What does this mean in terms of food?
When most of us see 130g of protein, unless you have been tracking your food, that doesn't mean a whole lot to you. So how would you go about getting 130g of protein in a day?
One of my favorite strategies is to break it up into pieces. That way, 130 grams would be 3 meals with 30 grams each plus 2 snacks with 20grams each.
What do 30 grams of protein actually look like?
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Your metabolism is the process of your body converting what you eat and drink into energy. The energy produced is responsible for everything from your movement to the automatic functions of the body.
The metabolism works around the clock continuing its job when you are sleeping. It is necessary that things such as your circulation, digestion, and breathing continue to work through the night. This all is dependent on your metabolism.
Have you ever wondered if your metabolism is low? If so, there are a couple of tests that you can do at home to get an objective perspective. The first involves some measures of your temperature. Another will involve your pulse.
Let’s look at these simple tests that may reveal some interesting information!
Cycles of Your Temperature
Typically, your temperature will be between 97.8 and 98.6 degrees. However, it ebbs and flows throughout your day.
- little lower in the morning
- peak mid-day
- decline again in the evening
If you are cycling, it will also vary based on the phase of the cycle you are in.
- from bleed to ovulation (follicular phase) it will be a little lower (maybe high 97s).
- during your luteal phase, it will be higher (98s).
How to Measure Your Temperature
To measure your basal body temperature, keep a thermometer by your bedside. Since your temperature fluctuates throughout the day, be sure to measure it when you first wake up in the morning.
When measuring your temperature be sure to take it under the tongue. Hold the thermometer in your mouth for 2-3 minutes to warm it up before pressing the button. These steps will help you get the most accurate reading and make sure you don't get artificially low temps.
Once you have done this for three days, take the average of your temperatures. An average below 97.8 can be a sign that your body has slowed your metabolism.
Measuring Your Temperature After Meals
Another clue in checking to see if your metabolism has slowed is taking your temperatures after you eat. Your temperature should go up slightly after meals because you are metabolizing that food. If it goes down after you eat it means your food increased your stress and your metabolism isn’t working well.
Again, it is important to take your temperature under your tongue. For the most accurate read, be sure to leave the thermometer in your mouth for a few minutes before turning it on.
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Over the last few months, I have been doing a deep dive into all things minerals. It is fascinating when you understand what minerals do in the body. It is even more interesting to see how minerals work together in a unique way.
For example, magnesium is a key component for hundreds if not thousands of reactions, while copper and oxygen are used to make ATP which is our main energy source.
All of the cells in your body require minerals to make energy and hormones, but most of us are low in some minerals. Getting the right balance of minerals can make a huge difference in how you feel.
Let's explore why we may be low in minerals and learn how to check to see what minerals you may need to replenish.
How Could I be Low in Minerals?
Several things are leading to the depletion of key minerals in our world.
- Our soil is more depleted than it used to be. This results in the plants and animals that we eat having fewer minerals.
- Pesticides used on crops commonly deplete minerals.
- Medications deplete minerals (blood pressure medicine, birth control, corticosteroids, PPIs, etc.). Check out this article for more details.
- Surprisingly supplements can deplete minerals. For example, too much vitamin D can actually deplete magnesium and sometimes copper.
- Water filters can remove minerals from water.
- Stress depletes minerals! When we are stress, we burn through our minerals at a much faster rate.
While you can learn about your mineral status from blood tests, they don't give you the full picture. Since our bodies are great at keeping homeostasis (balance) in the blood they will often steal minerals from other places in the body to bring about this balance. In addition, when there is an excess of minerals the body may store them in the tissue to keep the blood at the level it needs to be. For this reason, I have been intrigued by Hair Trace Mineral Analysis lately.
Hair Trace Mineral Analysis (HTMA)
Since hair is one of many places the body eliminates minerals and heavy metals, it gives us an accurate picture of the minerals that may be lacking in the body. It also shows you when heavy metals or minerals are at excessive levels.
Some of the minerals it tests for are calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. These minerals are not produced in the body and must be gotten through your diet. It is important that these four minerals are balanced in your body; without them, you will not be able to feel your best.
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When you think of eating healthy do you ever think about eating more calories? Most people think that they need to limit calories to eat healthy, but this simply is not the case and can actually cause a lot of harm.
Your body needs enough calories to function. Every system of your body is dependent on the nutrients it gets through your food. When you don’t get the calories you need, your body will not function well, and you will start to have symptoms.
Unfortunately, our culture has glamorized low-calorie diets to the point that many people don’t even know what is normal anymore. In fact, many women are chronically undernourished without even being aware of it.
Are you one of these women? Let’s find out!
Not Eating Enough
Without enough calories your body will start to turn on itself to supply the need for nutrients and energy. Your body will tell you that you need more calories in all kinds of subtle ways. If you don't listen to the subtle symptoms, your body will begin to speak louder. Symptoms may include:
- loss of muscle
- slower metabolism
- lower quality of sleep
- decrease in energy
- irregular cycles
- increase in anxiety and depression
- hair loss
- gut issues (including stomach aches and bloating)
- symptoms of hypothyroidism (cold hands/feet, etc.)
- symptoms of adrenal fatigue (lightheaded, fatigue, body aches, etc.)
- weight gain (your body confuses lack of calories as a famine and holds on to everything possible.)
Since eating enough is so important and many women undereat without knowing it, I encourage you to follow the following steps to make sure your body is getting what it needs.
Calculate Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)
If you have followed me for a while, you know that I'm not a big fan of counting calories… BUT it can actually be an incredibly helpful exercise to do for a few days to make sure you are eating enough!
That's right- I find that SO MANY WOMEN are either intentionally restricting calories or don't even realize that they are eating WAY LESS than their body needs.
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Yes, it's true. I no longer drink plain water... and yet I am the most hydrated that I've been in my life.
We have been told for years that in order to stay hydrated, you must drink 8 glasses of water a day. I myself am guilty of telling people to drink "one ounce of water for very 2 lbs. of body weight." Unfortunately, what you often aren't getting from this water is minerals!
Yes, you need water, but you also need all sorts of minerals. Your current water processing and filtering systems have probably stripped away most of those minerals from your water. Think about the fluids in your body. They aren't made up of straight H2O. You have a complex mixture of all sorts of minerals.
If you are drinking just plain water (especially if you have a lot of it), you can dilute those mineral-rich fluids in your body. This makes your kidneys work way harder than they need to, and you may find yourself running to the bathroom constantly to pee off all of that excess fluid.
Adrenal Cocktails
This summer I started utilizing something called an Adrenal Cocktail. After running a Hair Trace Mineral Analysis (HTMA) test on myself, I found out that my potassium levels were incredibly low and was inspired to start utilizing adrenal cocktails.
There are several ways to make an Adrenal Cocktail, a mineral-rich drink that particularly focuses on supporting sodium and potassium levels. It also contains Vitamin C which helps in the utilization of these vitamins and provides bio-available copper.
My Adrenal Cocktail consists of:
- 1 Cup Coconut water
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1/4 tsp salt
That's it! I mix it up in the morning and take it with me to work every day. I sip on it between breakfast & lunch and between lunch & dinner.
In addition to feeling like I am actually doing a better job of staying hydrated, I have also noticed improvement in my skin and my energy! Here are more Adrenal Cocktail Recipes.
What else do I drink? Gel Water
Another way to increase hydration in the body is through a substance called "Gel Water." In their book Quench, authors Cohen and Bria describe Gel Water, or living water, as a “newly identified phase of water that’s not quite liquid, vapor, or ice. (It is) identified by an extra hydrogen and oxygen atom, so the molecular structure is H3O2.”
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