A recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation found that roughly 2 out of every 3 residents in the UK are overweight.
What’s more?
Another study showed that Brits will be the most overweight population in Europe by 2025.
Of course, there are countless reasons why so many UK residents find it hard to shed that excess stone. Stress from work, the convenience of takeaway, a lack of time and energy to work out…the list goes on.
The good news?
Eating healthy isn’t nearly as complex, nor as costly, as you might think. In this post, we’ll tell you why eating high protein vegetables is such an important part of your diet. We’ll also give you a list of some of our favourite high protein veggies and supplements.
Read on to learn how you can make this the year you look and feel better than ever.
What Are The Health Benefits of High Protein Vegetables?
Before we list some of our top snacks, let’s quickly go over the numerous health benefits of filling your diet with lots of high protein vegetables.
First of all, protein is an essential source of energy and is a much healthier alternative to carbohydrates. Instead of pasta with chicken breast, reach for a beet salad.
Additionally, protein helps your body to recover more quickly after a workout. Especially if you’re just starting out, getting lots of protein in your diet can help to reduce soreness, meaning you can work out for longer and more often.
It also helps to promote lean muscle mass, so you can feel stronger faster. You’ll also lose belly fat at a faster rate, lower your blood pressure levels, and even keep your cholesterol down.
If you’re one of those people who just feels hungry all the time, filling your diet with these vegetables will help you to curb your cravings.
In addition to providing you with a great amount of protein, these veggies are also high in fiber and antioxidants.
One of the biggest surprises?
Vegetables are often a much more affordable source of protein than more expense lean meats. This means you can eat better and save some money in the process.
Now, let’s move on to our list of some of our favourite high protein vegetables.
The Top High Protein Veggies
Now that you’re aware of just a few of the many health benefits of veggies that are high in protein, let’s talk about a few of the most popular ones out there.
Edamame
Perfect for snacking on throughout the day, just a single cup of edamame gives you nearly half of a day’s worth of protein. It works perfectly on its own or mixed in with egg, noodles, and scallions.
Spinach
It’s not just iron that you’ll get from leafy greens like spinach. Believe it or not, spinach is also a wonderful way to get your protein.
You can cook an entire packet of spinach to get your day’s worth of protein. If you’re interested in sneaking more spinach into your diet, we suggest throwing a cup of raw spinach into your favourite smoothie recipe.
Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts were once unpopular, but now, they’re in the midst of a major comeback. You might see them on restaurant menus decked out with oil and bacon bits, but you can make a much healthier — and cheaper — alternative at home.
Simply drizzle a little olive oil and sprinkle some garlic on a tray of Brussels sprouts, and pop them into the oven for about 20 minutes.
They have two grams of protein in every serving, and they’re also packed with Vitamin K and potassium.
Broccoli
Broccoli is one of the most effective high protein vegetables on our list. It does far more than just pack a serious punch of protein.
Broccoli is a wonderful source of fiber, which can aid in digestion. It also contains sulforaphane, a natural compound that many believe may help to fight cancer.
For best results, serve broccoli with other protein-rich foods, like lentils and organic tofu in lieu of chicken or beef.
Peas
Peas may be tiny, but they are certainly an enormous source of protein and fiber.
There are more than 8 grams of protein in a single cup. You can eat them alone as a snack throughout the day, or blend them up into a delicious pea soup.
Of course, they also work well tossed on top of a salad or even as a creative topping on your favourite pasta dish.
Asparagus
Do you get bloated easily? Have you noticed that your body seems to retain lots of water?
While getting rid of as much salt and sugar as possible is a good start, eating more asparagus can also help.
Asparagus helps with digestion, is a great source of protein and fiber, and makes for an elegant side dish at your next dinner party.
Other Sources Of Protein
While eating lots of the high protein vegetables listed above is a wonderful way to get more protein in your diet, doing so is by no means the only way.
It’s also a good idea to look into protein supplements. These supplements ensure that your body is getting enough protein, especially on your cheat days or when you don’t have time to cook.
If you’re starting a new, more intense workout regimen, adding protein supplements to your diet will help to give you the boost you need to stay fit.
Looking for ways to get more tips about how to eat better this year? Want to find out the truth regarding some of the most common health myths out there?
That’s where we come in.
Whether you’re interested in learning more about supplements or need access to the latest health tips to keep you motivated, we’re here to help.
Spend some time on our blog to learn more about healthy eating, and feel free to follow us on social media for daily quick tips!