Bread, cookies, yogurts and other protein-enriched foods are trending. Proteins are essential for the formation of tissues and that leads us to ensure that their integration into the diet is crucial. to show off beautiful skin. But, to what extent do these products that are so successful help us? Are they useful if we do not consume enough in our daily lives? And, more importantly, does this really happen in general? Should we prioritize this food group to look and feel better in the short and long term? Two nutritionists dissolve these and other of our doubts. Find out if it is worth including these options in your shopping cart.
© Getty ImagesThe opinion of the experts
“When we talk about protein-enriched foods, The key is to check the ingredients carefully.“, says dietitian-nutritionist Laura Jorge first. “Normally these types of products have added ingredients that are not necessary, such as sweeteners,” adds the expert. Her colleague, Fátima, agrees with her. Japan: “In general, I do not recommend the consumption of foods such as protein bread, protein cookies or bars, as they They usually contain low quality ingredientsas added sugars or artificial sweeteners that are not beneficial to health.” For the dietitian, “although these products are promoted as “protein”, it is important to keep in mind that They are not always a healthy option. The extra amount of protein they provide does not compensate for the unhealthy ingredients they usually contain.” According to Laura Jorge “protein can be obtained from other sources that are nutritionally more interesting”.
To this we must add that, in general, as Laura indicates, “the population does not have a protein deficiency. In fact, protein is usually consumed in excess, especially when we talk about protein of animal origin.” Therefore, he comments, “It is important to make a personal assessment to determine whether the incorporation of a protein-enriched food is interesting or not in each specific case.
For both experts, it is very important to pay attention to the quality of the ingredients before consuming any food and not get carried away by him marketing. They warn that, many times, we think that these types of foods are healthier when they really may not be. Furthermore, they can lead us to the false belief that we need incorporate more protein into the diet when, in reality, with the foods we have at our disposal, if we eat a healthy and balanced diet and make sure we consume all the food groups, we have a more than complete intake of protein. Something similar happens, according to Laura, with gluten-free foods: neither those that do not contain gluten are healthier nor do the healthy population in general have the need to consume them.
© @belenhostaletTwo approved products
For Laura Jorge, Protein shakes deserve special mention.. In his opinion, incorporating these into the diet may make sense, for example, in the case of an athlete or patients with certain pathologies that, for example, can lead to a drastic weight loss. Also in the case of people with eating disorders, in certain types of cancer, in older people or in the case of those who have lost, for whatever reason, a lot of muscle mass. In short, in those circumstances in which an extra contribution of calories to the diet is necessary and, in general, don’t have too much of an appetite.
On the other hand, for Fatima Japan, depending on what circumstances, It may also be interesting to eat protein yogurts.. “As long as it has a list of quality ingredients, without added sugars or artificial sweeteners, this type of product can be an excellent source of protein without the drawbacks of other processed foods,” says the expert. Thus, we can say that, well chosen, the protein yogurts They can be another source of protein in the diet without forgetting that there are others of both animal and plant origin that can be very interesting nutritionally. This is the case of eggs, legumes and lean meats.
With everything and with this, it is interesting to analyze each product in isolation and Do not put all protein-enriched products in the same bag. For Laura, it is essential to know where the protein is obtained from and what other ingredients accompany it in the composition of the product.
© Getty ImagesThe benefits of proteins to look more beautiful
According to Fatima Japan, protein consumption is essential to look and feel better and is interesting for many reasons:
- Proteins are the “building blocks” of our muscles, tissues and cells, meaning they play a crucial role in muscle repair and growth, especially after exercise.
- Additionally, a diet rich in protein helps us feel fuller for longer, which can be helpful in maintaining a healthy weight and controlling appetite.
- From the point of view of the skin, hair and nails, proteins are essential for their regeneration and strengthening.
- At a metabolic level, proteins also require more energy to digest compared to fats or carbohydrates, meaning they can contribute to increased energy expenditure.
For all these reasons, including them in the diet is crucial but, as in everything, don’t start over the top. First choose foods of natural origin rich in protein And, unless you have a particular nutritional requirement, choose protein-enriched products with good ingredients as a healthy treat that completes a balanced diet. Don’t let the marketing of processed foods displace the consumption of the most primary ingredients.
