Proteins

In any teenage diet, protein is important because it helps with growth and repair of the body. A lot of things in the body are made from protein such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones and that is why protein is important for a weight trainer. This is because the protein helps to grow and become bigger and stronger. There has been research that shows any athlete especially weight trainers require more protein. But eating protein in excess is very bad for you. The RDA for protein is about 46g for a teenage girl and 56g for a teenage boy. For a weight trainer the percentage or protein intake should be 20%. In a 2000-calorie diet, the amount of protein is about 100 grams, which is equivalent to 3 chicken breasts. The consuming of so many calories is not uncommon due to the amount of energy used because a weight trainer is an athlete. A good way to get protein is from milk, nuts, legumes, fish, eggs, and leaner meats. Fat-filled meats and cheese are not recommended because it has a lot of saturated fats, making the food not a suitable source of protein. Stay away from red meats, such as beef,goat, lamb, and other human-bred animals, because they have been connected to causing diseases, which are not helpful for being an athlete, such as a weight trainer.

Written by: Hallie Lam