Whew! What a whirlwind holiday adventure. Disney cruise, surgery, some under the weather days, and of course my kids came to visit, and everyone had a different schedule, so mom became the taxi driver to and from the airport and train stations. I am sad it is over and yet excited about 2024. The start of the new year is always a sense of a new beginning and that’s always exciting for me.

I do not believe in New Year’s resolutions because after about a week of giving up something I need to sustain my existence (such as chocolate), I fall into that “whose dumb idea was this anyway” and go back to eating chocolate.

Instead of a resolution I just choose a word. I took a poll of my friends, and many people do the same thing — choosing a word over a resolution. Some of my friends have chosen cool words like champagne, vacations, massage and relaxation. Those are definitely words I would choose from a personal perspective.

With that in mind, how about we choose a professional word: I suggest we choose “protein”. It is the new year and with the new year comes lots of resolutions regarding health. I am sure most of us overindulged over the holidays and pants may be a little tighter and waist bands may need to be a little loosened. We can all use a little nudge to being healthier this year.

So why protein? Not only is it our actual profession, but it is a critical component to health. Carbohydrates and fats are always controversial subjects, but everyone can agree that protein has health benefits. Protein reduces appetite, decreases hunger level and desire for cravings, it is needed to increase muscle mass and improve strength, improves bone mass, decreases issues with osteoporosis, it can boost metabolism and lower blood pressure, and it helps maintain focus during the day.

How much protein is enough? 1 g per pound of body weight. That may seem like a crazy amount but as we age it is important to maintain muscle mass to keep that weight off. Most people do not consume that amount and that’s why we should have protein as our professional word!

When should protein be consumed? All throughout the day. Most people consume it at dinnertime but to get these benefits it is important to eat it at all three meals — or, if you are a grazer like me, at all six meals daily. Protein at breakfast (25-30g+) helps keep focus. At lunch (20-30g+), it helps keep us from getting that sluggish feeling and needing another cup of coffee. At dinner, it will keep us full and prevent snacking!

We are in the protein business, and we need to be able to toot our own horns as to the benefits of protein. The benefits of protein are underrated. Let’s make "protein" our professional word of the day for 2024. Eat more protein at each meal and the health benefits will become obvious.

I challenge everyone to log their food for a month and see how much protein you are consuming based on the recommendations to maintain a healthy muscle mass. Report back and let me know how you are doing.

2024 Word of the day: protein

2024 Word of the day: protein

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