Where is my protein?

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

by Erin Stokes, ND, Medical Director at FoodState®

In my naturopathic practice, a simple piece of advice, which I share with almost everyone, has made a positive difference in the daily lives of many patients. Time and again, people tell me about how this one sentence I wrote down for them was so practical, easy to follow, and yielded real results.

What is it, you ask?

“Where is my protein”

Now, you may be scratching your head, thinking, “Really, that’s it?!”

So, let me explain.

Let’s use breakfast as an example. A standard American breakfast is a bowl of cereal with a glass of juice. This carbohydrate burst will send blood glucose levels soaring, only to crash shortly afterwards. This is not a good scenario.

The healthier alternative scenario is that before your first meal of the day (and at every meal), you ask yourself the question, “Where is my protein?” If you are having a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice, you will get a very minimal amount of protein from the milk in the cereal, but not a significant amount. Let’s ask again, “Where is my protein?” Perhaps it is a hard boiled egg, or if you’re having oatmeal, you add a few tablespoons of plain greek style yogurt and raw almonds on top, or maybe you decide to have a piece of salmon with greens on the side for breakfast. I think you get the idea.

You want to ask yourself this simple question about protein at every meal. Why? Adequate amounts of protein stabilize blood glucose levels. Think of your blood glucose as your fuel for your body. If you don’t eat enough protein and your glucose levels drop, you impact not just energy, but also stress in a negative manner. The low blood glucose levels correlate directly with low energy. In addition, when glucose levels drop, the body compensates by secreting cortisol from the adrenal glands, the center of our stress response.

In my work, I strive to set people up for success. Often people say they are “too busy to eat”. And breakfast can be one of the most challenging times, as many of us are on a tight timeline in the morning. Smoothies have become a popular option, and I support that as an alternative for protein intake, provided these smoothies are not high in sugar. A protein powder such as INNATE Vegan Protein can be an asset for convenient protein intake any time of day. It is naturally sweetened with stevia, and can be easily blended into a smoothie in just a couple minutes. This formula steers clear of major food allergens, since the protein source is pea protein. While a whole food diet is always the first answer to the question “Where is my protein?”, the realities of modern life certainly hold a place for a healthy protein powder option.

Do you have a simple, yet powerful piece of advice you often share with patients that has made a positive difference in their lives? We invite you to share with the practitioner community!

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

posted by Innate Response at

12:24 PM

Where is my protein?

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