It's February, and you know what that means! No, not Valentine's Day but rather National Protein Day! This special and unique holiday celebrated on the 27th of February, originated in India three years ago with a national public health initiative called Right to Protein. If you have no idea what we're talking about, don't worry - we have got you covered.
Starting with the basics, protein is a vital macronutrient and the most critical component of your diet. Primarily, it helps build up body mass, which is essential, but it has so many other health benefits. To list a few, it is a vital source of energy, helps your body grow, assists in digestion and blood clotting, maintains your body's pH level, boosts your immunity, and facilitates the movement of nutrients in your blood. Pretty magical, eh? So, of course, it is essential that we are all getting enough of the stuff.
That's where National Protein Day comes in. To raise awareness of its importance, sources, and ideal consumption levels, this holiday encourages people to bulk up on protein and make it a staple part of their diets. The obvious questions follow: where do you get your hands on this all-fixing nutrient, and how much of it do you need to consume? The most well-known substantial protein sources are lean meats, chicken, fish, and eggs. However, quinoa, lentils, edamame, and tofu can be more exciting alternatives. Nutrition experts recommend that healthy adults need about 0.8 to 1 gm per kg of their body weight, but this depends on your age, activity level, muscle mass, physical goals, and current health. It is okay to consume more than this, but over-consumption can be just as detrimental to your health.
This year's official theme is 'Food Futurism' which aims to help us all "recognize and understand the basics of food science, debunk myths detrimental to food sufficiency and highlight its importance in achieving a protein-sufficient future." Of course, we should note that having a balanced diet of all food groups is incredibly important, but as protein has as many benefits as it does - including maintaining high energy - we would be crazy not to recognize it with its own special day!
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