While diet and nutrition can often be overwhelming and confusing at times with all of the latest fad diets and supplements on the market, eating healthy is really a simple concept.  Although the concept is simple, I could easily spend many articles, or an entire book for that matter, debunking many diet myths and detailing the essentials of eating a clean diet.  So be on the lookout for future nutrition articles and who knows, maybe even a book one day.  But to keep things simple, I want to talk about maybe the most underrated macro-nutrient of all; protein.

Wikipedia defines proteins as "biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function."  To put it simply, proteins are made up of smaller molecules called amino acids.  They are responsible for some of the most important functions of our body including many cellular functions and chemical reactions necessary to live a healthy life.

There are 20 different amino acids, 9 of which cannot be synthesized by the human body and are thus referred to as 'essential amino acids.'  This means we need to eat certain foods in order to get those amino acids so our body can function properly...  

Just because you are eating a clean, balanced diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy some dessert every once in a while, or even more than once in a while.  Try out my Power Protein Cookie recipe below and you won't feel guilty the next time you want to indulge.  I like to make as part of a post-workout snack or a healthy dessert...