What is Considered a High-Quality Protein?
Protein is an essential nutrient we all need to stay as healthy and physically fit as possible. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a committed athlete, a combination of healthy protein intake and a detailed physical therapy program can help you perform at your peak physical level. Call our office to see how physical therapy can keep you in top condition. There are several important aspects of high-quality protein you should know about.
What Is a High-Quality Protein?
A high-quality protein is also referred to as a complete protein. The following are several important definitions and descriptions of high-quality protein.
- Complete Protein – Complete protein is protein that has all the necessary amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks that form protein.
- Biological Value – Biological value, or BV, is another term used to describe the quality of a protein. When a protein has a high BV this means it contains a sufficient amount of amino acids to form all the proteins your body needs.
- Digestible Protein – Your body’s ability to break food down and use it effectively is an aspect of how digestible it is. Lean meat is normally more digestible than tough meat. All types of cooked eggs are considered easily digestible.
What Are Some Examples of High-Quality Protein?
There are several sources of good protein to choose from that are highly digestible and provide an adequate amount of amino acids. These types of protein are considered complete protein and a physical therapist may recommend these to provide the nutrition you need to build healthy muscle.
- Fish – Salmon, tuna, halibut, and whitefish are all considered lean, complete protein.
- Meat – Most animal proteins are considered complete and high-quality. This includes red meat, poultry, and dairy products.
- Eggs – An average egg is a high-quality protein with approximately 6 or 7 grams of protein.
- Quinoa – This plant based food includes each of the 9 amino acids that are considered essential.
- Soy – Soy is one of only a few vegetable based proteins that are considered complete and high-quality.
Why Is This Type of Protein Important?
Your diet, especially foods that contain protein, is one of the most important aspects of building healthy muscles. After intense physical activity it’s extremely important to eat enough of the right kinds of protein in order to repair any damage done to muscle fibers. Whether it’s animal or a vegetable based protein, it’s necessary to consume a combination of healthy protein. It’s important to maintain a balance between eating enough protein to keep muscles healthy and strong while still maintaining a normal weight.
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
A good physical therapy treatment program can help with everything from rehabilitation when you’re injured to enhancing athletic performance. A physical therapist knows that high-quality proteins can build lean muscles and reduce overall muscle loss. An experienced physical therapist will conduct an evaluation regarding your current fitness level, the type of physical activity you’re currently participating in, any injuries you may have, and your diet. A physical therapist may ask you to include more high-quality protein in your diet as part of your overall program. Improving your diet, along with working with an experienced physical therapist, can help you increase your endurance, strength, and overall performance.
Athletics based physical therapy can help you up your game, recover faster from a current injury, or prevent future injury. It’s crucial to work with an experienced physical therapist to create the best training program possible. You can get back in the game and reach your peak with a detailed physical therapy program that’s created especially for you.
Contact Agility Physical Therapy today to make an appointment with a physical therapist!