“Ya can’t have your puddin if ya don’t eat your meat!!!!!” So said a certain Mr P. Floyd back in the day. Protein first!! Of course..the PrimalMed version is “ Ya can’t have your handful of berries and one square of organic 85% cacao until you eat your protein!”
So what’s the deal with protein anyway… why “Prioritize Protein?”
Here’s the deal: Ever hear of The Protein Leverage Hypothesis?… Well you did now!
You see, we humans eat for a whole host of reasons.. to feed our hunger is the biggie and of course that can be emotional/psychological as well as physiological. So let’s talk about the latter. Our bodies will be “hungry” and not be satiated UNTIL our bodies protein needs are met .. whether its for each meal or the day. That’s why you just don’t feel the need to eat a second steak or second portion of chicken or salmon, but we can eat the sweet stuff or the nefarious combo of carbs and fat ( hello pastries and chips) forever and ever. Yes there is some protein in most things…bread, or crackers and say almond butter..BUT..You may very well over consume those until you hit your protein needs.
Muscle is the organ of metabolic health and longevity. Fatty liver, and extra belly fat is not!.. Think of it this way….Every input is a choice you make …and every day, we are body builders.. and .. get this..WE get to choose which type of body we build!.. It can be built on nutrient dense protein, or the dreaded trifecta of sugar/fat/ and processed oils ( damn those scones).
We WILL subconsciously eat until satiety..so when its time to fuel the machine… pull the PROTEIN LEVER first… animal or plant protein as long as its whole food.. then fill in your energy source of choice ( we like veggies and organic whole fruit). If you are hungry or hangry all day.. why?.. because your body hasn’t quite gotten its quota of protein and it’s telling your brain “gotta eat and snack!”
So as PrimalMed was driving down the PCH, returning from the Metabolic Health Summit in Santa Barbara… the wise words of Pink Floyd came on the radio… and that sparked today’s random musing about Metabolic Health.. Why our bodies crave protein. See the handsome young dude in the picture.. He’s going hard on an In-N-Out burger but to his credit, its a bunless Protein Style burger in a lettuce wrap..minus the fries. He’s prioritizing protein, and he will be satiated and less likely to snack on the kettle corn later in the day.
Always hungry even after my Veggies and Fruit. Always enough room for a sweet!