Many of us are aware of the importance of getting enough protein in our diet. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are needed to build and repair muscles and bones.
They also help make hormones and enzymes and can be used as an energy source.
In recent years people have been even more wary to include protein in their diets in order to build lean muscle mass.
While it is true we do need to include protein in our diets, one doctor has issued a warning when it comes to trying to boost our protein intake.
Speaking on BBC’s Morning Live, Doctor Xand van Tulleken, urged people to be cautious about the type of protein we are eating.
Firstly he advised that it is essential to maintain a steady intake of good-quality protein as the body struggles to store it – unlike fats or carbohydrates.
However, he stated that foods advertising themselves as having extra protein were not always the healthiest option.
That is because many of them are in fact ultra-processed foods, the Mirror reports.
That can mean that any health benefit from consuming extra protein is countered by the consumption of an ultra-processed food.
Dr Xand explained: “People talk about good-quality protein but that is a less-important question. What is more important is what is the food itself that it has been added to?
“Very often, the foods with added protein are ultra-processed foods, so they have lots of other funny ingredients in, so they are prepared and wrapped in plastic.
Often they have these health claims – or implied health claims – saying ‘full of protein’ as if it is a good thing.
“A pattern of eating ultra-processed food is associated not only with weight gain, but all kinds of dietary ill health – gut problems, heart disease, diabetes: a whole range of different things.
“The more that has been done to it in a factory, the less healthy it probably is.”
Ultra-processed foods typically have more than one ingredient that you never or rarely find in a kitchen.
They also tend to include many additives and ingredients that are not typically used in home cooking.
These can include preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colours and flavours.
Ultra-processed foods often contain high levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar.
Concerningly, it is estimated that more than half of the calories consumed by Brits come from ultra-processed foods.
Dr Xand used the example of yoghurt which, in its natural form, has lots of health benefits – including being a good source of protein.
But he said that many often have sweeteners, colours and thickeners added to them.
While eating one in isolation probably would not do you any harm, he said, eating them regularly could have negative results for your health.
Dr Xand added: “Proteins are made of chains of amino acids and they do all kinds of different jobs in our bodies. We are about 20 percent protein.
“Your protein is doing everything from building muscles to blood vessels to brain cells, all kinds of connective tissue, all sorts of different jobs in your body.
“You can store fat, you can store some carbohydrate but you can’t store protein, you just use it for things. So you need to have a fairly consistent daily intake.”
Natural sources of protein include beans, pulses, fish, eggs, and unprocessed meat (this means avoiding ham, bacon and sausages).
Typically, men should eat 55 grams of protein per day and women should eat 45g.