Protein is one of the best macronutrients for your skin. It is rich in amino acids that not only further that soft, smooth and youthful feel of your skin but also it helps to manage appetite and hunger control. If you are like me, the first thing that comes to my mind when protein is mentioned, is that I think about protein powder. You know protein powder, the supplements athletes and gym junkies take after the gym.
While protein powder is beneficial to athletes, it can also be beneficial to anyone looking to boost the vibrancy of their skin. In this article we will have a look at the signs of protein deficiency, how it affects your skin and how you can improve the quality of your hair, skin and nails.
How to know if you are deficient in protein?
Research have revealed that out of men and women it is the female sex that has a higher chance of being deficient in protein. We simply are not eating enough protein oriented foods. Doctor Oz says women must eat 0.8 grams of protein for ever kilo of bodyweight. That means if you weight 50 kg you must eat 40 grams of protein to stay healthy. The healthier you are the more of a chance your body has to produce quality, soft and vibrant, hair, nails and skin!
There a 2 ways in which you can find out if you are eating enough protein. Number 1 is to track your calories and macronutrients with an app like MyFitnessPal and number 2 is to ball park it. If you are roughly 30% of the food you eat is a type of protein then you are eating enough protein. If you are falling short then you are most likely deficient in protein and need to boost your intake.
How to boost protein intake?
You can either eating more protein sources of food. Foods like tuna, salmon, chicken, soy beans and red meat are all foods that are high in protein. If meaty food are not your thing then alternative you can consume a protein powder supplement. Protein powder like the ones sold at Supplement Express are any easy, tasty and convenient way to boost your intake of protein.
How protein can help your skin, hair and nails
The reason protein can help improve the quality of your skin, hair and nails is simply because your nails, hair and skin are all made from protein. When your body doesn’t have enough protein, it allocates less protein to the parts of your body that need it. Less protein means less quality hair, nails and skin.
If you have roughly skin, frizzy hair and defect white spots in your nails then that is probably a sign that you are not getting enough protein. By increasing your intake you help supply your body with enough of the resources it needs to create luscious and full hair, vibrant and soft skin, and shiny and straight nails.
