If you want to turn your body into a fat-burning machine, you’re going to need to eat a daily dose of quality protein.

Your organs, tissues, muscles, and hormones are all made from proteins. Quality protein foods will supply nutrients to be used by every part of the body to develop, grow, and function properly.

Proteins are also the building blocks of the body and the foundation of building muscle. The more muscle mass you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate becomes. In a nutshell, this means your body will burn more calories even if you are not pumping iron.

To increase and maintain muscle mass, the amount of protein and the quality of protein both matter. Protein quantity does not mean protein quality. You can’t just run through In and Out and grab a few protein burgers. You need to consume quality proteins in order for your body to produce a healthy muscle mass.

Consuming a variety of protein-rich food throughout the day is a great way to keep your body in protein balance.

What to eat – Quality Protein Sources

Animal Proteins – Grass-fed beef is one of the best high-protein foods that you can find and why I love to barbeque up a beef patty on a regular basis. Other quality animal proteins include organic chicken, lamb, and venison.

Eggs – Organic eggs are a great source of protein and can help provide a wealth of important nutrients as well as contain little “scrubbers” to detox the liver, our main fat-burning organ.

Salmon – Wild-caught salmon is one of the healthiest protein sources because it’s also high in omega-3 fatty acids and a number of vitamins and minerals.

Yogurt & Kefir – great protein source for weight loss due to their filling quality, calcium, and other nutrients. Make sure it’s plain, organic and no added sugar or other harmful ingredients.

Almonds – Raw almonds are generally higher in protein and lower in fat than many other nuts. They are also a bit less calorie-dense so a perfect nut choice for weight loss.

Legumes – beans & lentils are a great addition to your weight loss diet. They are both high in protein and fiber which makes you feel fuller longer.