In an article published by WebMD Health News, the nutrition debate continues to rage on. What are the best food groups to eat, the most healthiest, the ones you are most likely to lose a few pounds on?
The debate of the merits of low-fat and low-carb diets has been ongoing for years. But now, according to WebMD, the third macronutrient has entered the limelight: From cereals to Greek yogurt to bagels, welcome to the high protein content era.
Although protein has, until recently, kept a low profile compared to fat and carbohydrates, it's always been a major player in the body. As stated in the article, proteins are present in every cell and they act as building blocks for all types of tissue. Foods naturally high in protein, such as meat, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, and seeds, also tend to be high in other important nutrients.
"In my years of studying trends, there's always the next thing in food and beverage consumption," says Darren Seifer, a food and beverage industry analyst with The NDP Group told WebMD. "And it looks like the thing to do now is eat protein. There are a lot of perceived health benefits to consuming more protein."
In a report earlier this year, "Protein Perceptions and Needs," WebMD reports that Seifer and his co-authors noted that more than three-quarters of U.S. consumers agree that protein contributes to a healthy diet, and more than half say they want to eat more of it. The study found that nearly half of the primary grocery shoppers in a household have bought protein-enriched foods, and many are willing to pay a premium for them.
"Americans are looking for protein to aid in satiety (and) weight management and to boost muscle recovery and build muscle after a workout," Nirvana Chapman, global food science trend analyst at Mintel, says in a news release.
So, you see, the new hot food group is indeed, protein. It fills you up, builds muscle, and is important in reaching your weight management objectives.
