Let me make your life easy guys!
Thinking about what to have for breakfast? Have a big protein meal.
It should include eggs…2 eggs and 3 eggs if you dare or something meaty like a beef or chicken sausage. Now don’t start yelling at me just yet. The main point is to have a high protein meal first thing when you wake up. The reasons are simple and very crucial to your health and off course your emotional – mental wellbeing. Reasons are below!
But what to eat during rush hour is off course a stressful question. I recommend protein shakes. It’s easy, affordable and hassle free. I do recommend the best types of protein powders however, and always recommend whey isolate. But if you prefer other complete sources of protein like hemp protein that’s good also. When I say affordable I mean really affordable. When you compare the price of one scoop of whey to eggs and meat, whey protein powders are way less. Off course you must have your eggs later in the day too, but during early morning hectic rush hours, you can still take care of YOURSELF and chug that protein shake. Let’s talk about protein powders later, here are the reasons you must add more protein to your diet and protein smoothie should be one of them.
Increase Your Alertness
Protein are made up of amino acids and your brain needs amino acids to function at its optimal level. A morning meal high in protein raises your brain’s tyrosine levels. This helps your brain produce neurotransmitters called norepinephrine and dopamine, which give you energy and make you feel awake and alert. Say goodbye to morning brain fog!
Satiety
Researchers from the University of Missouri used MRI scans to compare the brain activity of teens who ate high-protein breakfasts to teens who either skipped breakfast or ate breakfasts moderate in protein. Right before lunch, the breakfast skippers were the hungriest. The MRI scans showed that those who ate the high-protein breakfast experienced less brain activity in regions that control food motivation, or hunger, than those who ate cereal for breakfast. Meaning, teens who ate only cereal, their brains were “thinking” about food, and teens who ate protein, their brains were not” thinking” about food. Moral of the story : breakfast rich in protein can help you stay fuller for longer compared to having a lower-protein breakfast.
Amino Acids
Two amino acids, glutamate and aspartate, act as brain neurotransmitters, and are obtained from protein. You also need several others, including tyrosine, tryptophan and phenylalanine, to produce the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. If you have eggs, meat, fish or poultry with breakfast, your brain will have all of the neurotransmitters it needs to help your entire body function properly. Eating incomplete proteins, such as wheat toast or peanut butter does not provide all the amino acids needed for brain product. Complete proteins are found in animal flesh, eggs and from the plant source of hemp.
Ok So Why Protein Smoothie?
Well, it is fast digesting and provides your body with the amino acids you need after resting all night. Have I mentioned it’s easy and cheap? But please don’t take this as incentive to skip your eggs. You just need to fit those in for brunch. For those of you living in Dhaka : yes you can buy protein powder from trusted source
What If You Don’t Have Whey Protein Powder Yet?
Don’t worry about it. Until you get your protein powder, start with a fresh curd smoothie. I have a recipe here that’s versatile and you can play around with. For morning smoothies I suggest 1 to 2 cups of curd to start with since you wanna get in as much as protein as possible.
Don’t wait. your health isn’t your first priority and you have to start each day by taking care of YOURSELF FIRST!
Marina Farook 