Why runners need to eat more protein!

Runners need more protein in their diet.  Here are five reasons why.  1. Hormones are chemical messengers in the body, which act as catalysts for all major bodily functions, a study in Nutrition & Diabetes, for instance, suggests a strong relationship between gut hormones and obesity. Hormones are primarily derived from amino acids and peptides, which, in turn, are derived from protein. 2. Also a type of messenger in the body, neurotransmitters are best known for passing chemical and electrical signals in the brain. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry established a relationship between neurotransmitters in grey matter and symptoms of depression, and dopamine, the ‘happy chemical’ released when you go running, is a neurotransmitter. They work across the entire body, transmitting signals across spaces in cells rather than through the bloodstream and are you guessed it, derived from amino acids and, therefore, protein. 3. Protein is used to build muscle, not lose weight, surely? Well, it’s not quite that simple. A study published in Physiology & Behaviour confirmed that protein increases satiety more so than other nutrients, which is obviously handy when trying to cut a few pounds, but there’s even more to it than that. Protein has a thermic effect on your body, which means that your metabolism is increased in breaking it down. So by eating more protein, you increase the rate at which your body burns food for energy. 4. Protein’s best-documented role in the body is to repair muscle cells after exercise, helping them to recover and grow larger in response to the intensity of the work.

posted Sunday August 12th