You don’t have to be a health guru to know that protein is an incredibly important nutrient. Without protein and the essential amino acids it provides, reactions and processes cannot be carried out to their fullest extent in the body, explains Emily Tills, RDN. What many of us are unaware of, however, is that protein also impacts and helps maintain the balance of our hormones—the crucial chemical messengers that play multiple roles within our bodies. Many hormones are constructed from amino acids, the building blocks of protein, explains Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN.
When our hormones are out of whack, we can experience a slew of health concerns. Imbalances in hormones—meaning too many or not enough of any hormone—may potentially disrupt our hunger and fullness cues, digestion, blood sugar, stress response, energy metabolism, focus, fertility, libido, sleep, and more, warns functional dietitian Jenna Volpe, RDN, LD, CLT. “The outcome can vary greatly depending on the …