You don't have to be a superstar athlete to know protein is essential for the body, but its importance can be underrated by folk who don't train on the regs. Even if you aren't lifting five times a week and requiring a super high protein diet, along with carbohydrates and fats, it's one of the three essential macronutrients.
As well as playing a big part in muscle building and repair, it helps to keep bones strong and appetites in check. Recommended amounts vary depending on lifestyles but, according to the NHS website, the reference nutrient intake (RNI) is 0.75g of protein per kilogram of body weight for adults. This averages approximately 46g per day, which is the equivalent of two pieces of salmon.
Despite the boom in high protein snacks (under EU laws, 'high protein' means the food is at least 20% protein), registered nutritionist Jenni Gough recommends you opt for protein-rich home-cooked dishes, rather than reaching for highly processed options.
You should aim to consume around 25g-35g of protein per meal for optimum muscle build and repair. Anything more than that will essentially be flushed out in waste, so there's no point in loading up in one sitting.
Ready to fire up some seriously tasty high protein recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Keep scrolling—WH has 23 just for you.