The Pro's of Protein

Protein is in every living cell in the body, and is needed to build and maintain bones, muscles and skin. It can come from a number of sources including meat, legumes cheeses and some vegetable material.

Because your body can't store protein the way it stores fats or carbohydrates it is important to eat a healthy amount of protein every day. Most adults need between two and three servings a day, but it this can vary based on your health needs and age.

One serving of protein is about 250grams (picture a deck of playing cards to estimate size) of cooked meat, chicken or fish or one-half cup of cooked dried beans, an egg, or 100grams cheese.

While protein does come from soybeans, peas, nuts, whole grains, and some vegetables such as broccoli, the simplest and most common way to get your daily serving is by eating meat, because proteins from meat and other animal products are complete proteins, and give you all the amino acids your body needs in one go.

This doesn't mean that all meat is equal though. In fact some meats are far better for your health, and your waistline than others, so here's some handy tips to help you navigate your trolley through the world of meats.

Fair Game: Game refers to the meat from any land animal that is hunted for food, and is not typically kept domestically. The best game meats are Kangaroo, Crocodile and Venison, which are incredibly low fat and great for you. The good news is that these meats have recently grown in popularity due to their interesting and often richer flavour, and they are available in most supermarkets and butchers.

Domestic Bliss: If game meat is a little exotic for you that's okay too, the best choices of traditional red meat are veal, pork or lean beef, and as long as you chose a lean cut, they are still good for you, and very tasty.

The lighter side of meat: If you are not a big meat eater but still crave that complete protein almost any type of fish is super healthy, and packed full of Omega 3 as an added benefit. Lean breast fillet chicken without the skin is also a good source of protein, as are eggs and cheeses.

Learn the Lingo: Certain words on packaging indicate which cuts of meat are lower in fat. Lean cuts of beef include round, chuck, sirloin or tenderloin, while "prime" usually means a higher fat content. Lean pork is usually tenderloin, loin chops or leg, while bacon, is definitely something to avoid in the everyday diet.

How Low Can You Go: The healthiness of meat is also affected by the way that it's cooked. Low-fat cooking methods include grilling, broiling, roasting, sautéing and baking. When you cook meat or poultry in your oven, be sure to put it on a rack on a baking pan so that the fat drips away. The main method to stay away from is frying, which ultimately raises the fat content of your meal, but if you do have to do it, try to use a low fat virgin olive oil.

Remember the Process: Avoid processed meats such as sausages, salami's and anything that doesn't come pretty much straight from the animal to your plate. These meats will have less nutrients and protein and more added preservatives and other extras making them significantly less beneficial than all fresh meats.

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