Why is protein important?
Importance of protein:
the importance of protein can be
determined by the fact that more than 50 percent of our dry body mass
is made up of protein, protein is called the building block of our body as it
is the basic component that makes our muscles, tendons, nail, hair, enzymes
hormones, RBCs, etc. It is a part of cellular membranes, connective tissues,
bone mass, and much more.
How is the deficiency of protein going to affect your body’s growth, health and maintenance, and healing?
Loss of bones and muscles
When there is not enough raw material
to make new bone and muscle cells there is no regeneration of new cells which
results in the loss of bone mass and muscle mass.
Weak tendons and connective tissues
As the protein makes tendons and
connective tissues as well, the lack of protein is obvious to result in poor
repair and growth of these, resulting in difficulty moving, pain and
inflammation in muscles.
Low enzymes:
There are around 1300 different
enzymes controlling different body functions. Including the co-factors that
assist enzymes in their activity, there are up to 100,000 various chemical
controlling almost all metabolic processes taking place in our body including
digestion, respiration, the function of nerves and muscles, etc. so as the intake of
protein is less than required, the body will be lacking in enzyme, resulting in
all sort of problems like indigestion. No efficient energy production by the
cells results in getting exhausted earlier.
Nerve function will disturb the whole coordination of the brain with the
body. As the heart is also a muscle made up of protein, it may get weaker leading to
more chances of a heart attack.
Low hormones:
Hormones are also proteins so a lack of hormones
like glucagon and insulin leads to improper sugar level regulation.
Testosterones. , progesterone, cortisol, and all other hormones are proteins.
So we can see the importance of protein everywhere.
RBCs:
The RBCs are red because of the presence of
hemoglobin proteins, lack of RBCs leads to anemia. As the function of RBCs is to
provide oxygen to the whole body that further help burn food to release energy, an
anemic person always feels exhausted. So it is not just because of iron
deficiency.
This is just a list of some body
functions affected by protein deficiency. As new body cells are not frequently
being produced and repair of cells is also compromised. It will obviously
result in faster aging.
SOURCES OF PROTEINS
As we know, the highest protein foods are
eggs, dairy products, meat, fish, etc.
An interesting fact is that all of
the protein available in these sources is not completely used up by the body.
Highest protein foods
The highest protein food source
amongst all these is the whole egg which contributes to 48 percent of protein
tissue building in the body rest is wasted, people prefer to take egg white only as
it is the main protein component but interestingly absence of yolk reduces the
protein capability to be used up by the body as a building block and most of it
up to 83 percent goes in waste.
Another myth is about taking whey
protein, only 17 percent of this protein converts to body tissue rest is just
waste. So rather than spending money on expensive whey protein products, we
must include other natural affordable sources of food for protein.
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