There are many sources of protein in your diet
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From powders to popcorn to pancakes – supermarket shelves are awash with products stuffed with protein, but what is behind this nutritional trend? Donald Layman at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign takes some responsibility for the craze, having conducted more than 100 studies over the decades, mostly focusing on one amino acid: leucine. Layman has consistently linked leucine, which is found in dietary protein, to muscle growth and repair. This helped make protein a wonder nutrient for young people seeking a honed physique and for older individuals looking to limit the muscle loss that naturally occurs with age. Here, he tells New Scientist the three most important things we should know about protein.
