Protein

What is protein?

Protein is made up of amino acids – most of which are essential to include in your daily diet as the body cannot make many of them.

Why does the body need it?

Protein provides the body with roughly 10 to 15 per cent of its dietary energy, and is needed for growth and repair. It is a major functional and structural component of our cells.

How much protein does the human body need?

In the UK, the health authorities suggest that men should eat 55.5g protein a day and women 45g. Most people in the UK eat far more protein than they actually need.

How much protein does bread contain?

The protein content of bread is normally between 7.5% and 9.5%

A medium slice of both white and brown breads contain 2.8g of protein. A medium slice of wholemeal bread will provide 3.3g and a medium slice of seeded bread will provide 3.4g.

Can bread be included as part of a high protein diet?

Many protein only diets such as the Dukan diet or the Atkins diet now allow bread to be consumed. We only ever advocate eating a healthy, balanced diet made up of all of the different food groups. Restricting your intake of, or completely removing a food group from your diet can lead to serious nutrient deficiencies.