I've been digging deep into the work of Dr. Ted Naiman and others lately about the importance of protein in our diets. Protein is the most important macronutrient when it comes to building strong muscles and bones, and repairing tissues throughout the body. If you think about it in the most basic terms, we are made of protein, so doesn't it make sense that our bodies need a lot of it? It is also the most satiating, which means that when you eat a lot of protein you will feel full longer, and won't be as likely to crave the not-so-nourishing foods later in the day. There is also a theory out there that the reason many of us overeat is that we are not getting enough protein, so we go looking for it in other food sources and keep eating until we either get enough or can't eat another bite. (The Protein Leverage Hypothesis--it's a real thing, look it up!) Therefore, when we eat more protein, we aren't as hungry all the time, we feel better, we build muscl...