4 High Protein Foods That Are Also Delicious

Modified May 24, 2023 07:48 GMT

Protein-rich foods that are tasty (Image via Unsplash/Coffeefy Workafe)

High Protein foods are the best way to increase your protein intake. Proteins are made up of small molecules known as amino acids.

Some non-essential amino acids can also be synthesized in the body, while others need to be obtained from food sources. Protein foods commonly consumed are fish, poultry, red meat, eggs, soy, dairy products, nuts, beans, etc.

In this article, we will the nutritional value of the best high protein foods to include in your diet.

What is Protein?

It's the building block of several cellular molecules and enzymes that play important roles in immunity and other systems of the body. Amino acids also serve as a structural unit of muscle and other tissues.

Protein is required for the maintenance and repair of tissues. It's also required to produce water-soluble hormones and hemoglobin (the molecule which gives the red color to red blood cells). High Protein foods are usually not preferred as an energy source.

22 Protein-Rich Foods to Add to Your Diet

Here's a list of High protein foods to consider:

beef
pork
chicken
turkey
quail
salmon
herring
trout
tuna
mackerel
eggs
butter
fresh cream
processed cheese
cheddar
goat cheese
cream cheese
mozzarella
almonds
walnuts
pumpkin seeds
pulses
beans

Apart from these foods, protein powder can also be included in the diet. The best protein powders for weight loss often contain whey and other plant-based proteins.

Nutritional Value of High Protein Foods

Here are the detailed nutritional values of the four best protein foods:

1) Egg

Eggs are the best source of bioavailable protein. They can be used to make some of the best high-protein snacks to boost your metabolism. Hundred grams of eggs contain:

Calories: 155 kcal
Protein: 12.6 grams
Carbohydrates: 1.12 grams
Fat: 10.6 grams
Choline: 294 mg
Vitamin D: 87 IU
Cholesterol: 373 mg

2) Chicken

The amount of calories and protein in chicken breasts is ideal for building muscles. A single chicken breast has the following nutritional value:

Calories: 128
Fat: 2.7 g
Sodium: 44 mg
Carbohydrates: 0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugars: 0 g
Protein: 26 g

3) Fish

The nutritional value of 100 grams of salmon is:

Calories: 280
Fat: 12.5g
Sodium: 86mg
Carbohydrates: 0g
Fiber: 0g
Sugars: 0g
Protein: 39.2g

4) Cheese

The typical nutritional value of cheddar cheese is mentioned below. Other forms of cheese also have similar values.

Calories: 120 kcal
Fat: 10 grams
Sodium: 190 mg
Carbohydrates: 0 grams
Fiber: 0 grams
Sugar: 1 gram
Protein: 7 grams
Calcium: 201.6 mg
Vitamin A: 95.7 mcg
Vitamin B12: 0.3 mcg

How Much Protein Do You Need?

Protein requirements for different individuals vary according to their age, gender, and physical activities. It also depends on certain physiological conditions, such as pregnancy and lactation.

The calories required by an individual are distributed among the different macronutrients in our diet. For a diet consisting of carbs, fats, and proteins, the energy distribution is as follows:

Proteins: 10–35% of total calories
Fats: 20–35% of total calories
Carbs: 45–65% of total calories

Requirements of High protein foods are also calculated on the basis of the bodyweight of an individual. The amount of protein required by people of different age groups per day are as follows:

Babies and children

0 – 6 months: 9.1 grams
6 – 12 months: 11.0 grams
1 – 3 years: 13.0 grams
4 – 8 years: 19.0 grams

Males

9 – 13 years: 34.0 grams
14 – 18 years: 52.0 grams
19 – 70 years and older: 56.0 grams

Females

9 – 13 years: 34.0 grams
14 – 70 years and older: 46.0 grams

Pregnant or lactating: 71.0 grams

Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are the three main macronutrients required by the body.

Protein, fat, and carbohydrates contain 4 kcal, 9 kcal, and 4 kcal of energy per gram respectively. One should carefully calculate all the macros while planning a diet.