Three Powerful (and Totally Underrated) Benefits of Protein
Why Is Everyone So Obsessed With Protein?
It seems like protein is the talk of the town these days…and by town, I mean social media 😅
Want to build muscle? Eat more protein.
Want to balance your hormones? Protein.
Want to age gracefully? Resistance training—and, you guessed it! More protein.
Protein, protein, protein. WE GET IT.
But here’s the thing: even though we know protein is good for us, does that actually translate into eating enough at every meal?
For most people, I’m guessing… probably not.
If “building muscle” isn’t enough motivation for you to eat more protein (trust me, I get it—it wasn’t for me, either), what if I told you that protein is literally the glue that holds your body together?
Protein is the O.G. hair, skin, and nail multivitamin, it speeds up the healing process, boosts metabolism, and supports long-term fat loss.
That’s a little more interesting, right? Here are three underrated ways protein benefits your body—and some tips to help you boost your intake:
1️⃣ Slows Skin Aging
Studies show that people who eat more protein have smoother skin, better skin elasticity, and fewer wrinkles. (Now I have your attention! 😉)
This is thanks to amino acids like glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which support collagen production. Protein is also an excellent source of B vitamins (B7, B2, B3, B6, and B12) and zinc, which strengthen your skin, hair, and nails.
How to Boost It: Add collagen-rich foods like bone broth, salmon, and eggs to your diet—or stir collagen powder into your coffee for an easy beauty boost. (See below for my friend’s bone broth hot chocolate recipe!)
2️⃣ Strengthens Immune System
Protein powers the production of white blood cells, which your body needs to fight infections. It also speeds up tissue repair and recovery. In fact, research shows that increasing your protein intake by up to 250% can significantly speed up wound healing.
How to Boost It: Load up on grass-fed meats, chicken, eggs, lentils, bone broth, or Greek yogurt to keep your immune system strong this cold and flu season.
3️⃣ Promotes Fat Loss
Protein helps keep your blood sugar stable and keeps you fuller for longer.
Here’s how: it triggers the release of GLP-1 (a gut hormone that promotes satiety) and burns up to 20% more calories during digestion than carbs or fats. In other words, eating more protein can give your metabolism a natural boost.
How to Boost It: Focus on including a palm-sized portion of protein at every meal—think grilled chicken, a burger patty, lentil soup, or even a protein smoothie.
The Big Question: Are you eating enough protein to get these benefits?
Want to learn more about protein?
You’re in luck!
I’ve broken down The Pillars of Our Plate Ebook into 3 small, digestible parts. Part 1 is all about protein.
In this 12-page ebook you’ll learn how to:
Set your daily protein goal
Optimize plant-based protein sources
Easily measure portion sizes
And you’ll get a cheat sheet for sourcing the highest quality sources.
