Sourav SinhaImportance of Protein for the human body

24July

Importance of Protein for the human body

What Exactly is Protein and Why Do You Need It?
Protein makes up the vast majority of the human body, outside of water. Muscle and other connective tissue, as well as the skin and hair, are all made up of protein, and all of these require protein from outside sources in order to function properly and remain healthy. In addition to this, protein plays a major factor in the function of nearly every other part of your body, including your hormones, neurotransmitters and your fluids.
Although much of the protein in your system gets reused, your body is constantly burning through it, especially when you’re physically active. For this reason, consuming adequate amounts of protein is essential to maintain optimal health. As the body does not store protein like it does carbohydrates or fats, any lapse in its supply will typically cause it to start to break down muscle to obtain the protein it needs, which can be detrimental to one’s health.
Amount of Protein Needed for an Average Person
The amount of protein you need will depend on your weight, height and your activity level. For the average person who is at a healthy weight and is moderately active, such as playing a team sport once or twice a week, walking daily or working in a physically demanding job, body weight can be used to determine how much protein he or she needs. In general, you can multiply your weight by .8 to determine the grams of protein that you should consume in a day. For example, a man weighing 80 Kgs needs to consume a minimum of 64 grams of protein per day.
Those on a calorie restrictive diet who are looking to lose weight can also generally go by this guideline if they are relying on diet alone to shed the pounds. However, when using a combination of diet and exercise to reach a healthy weight, going by the amount of protein recommended for physically active people can be beneficial.
Amount of Protein Needed for Physically Active People
As previously discussed, consuming inadequate amounts of protein will typically cause the body to begin to break down muscle in order to get the protein it needs. As those who are physically active tend to burn through the protein they eat more quickly, they typically require significantly more than the average person does. Those who engage in heavy resistance training, long distance running, or generally spend a fair amount of time at the gym can typically benefit from eating more protein than their less-active, yet still healthy, counterparts do.
Can I Eat Too Much Protein?
Barring any health issues, one cannot typically eat too much protein provided he or she is still obtaining the necessary vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from other food sources. Individuals with kidney disease should be careful to not exceed the amount of protein set by their doctors, as the kidneys play a pivotal role in breaking down the protein so it can be used by the body. For otherwise healthy individuals, however, the body will dispose of any excess protein without issue.
What are the Best Sources of Protein?
When it comes to the “best” sources of protein, this is determined by how many amino acids each protein source contains. Animal sources, including beef, chicken, lamb, pork, fish and eggs, each contain all 20 of the necessary amino acids, and are often labeled as “complete” sources of the nutrient. While plant sources such as nuts, seeds and legumes also contain some amino acids, they are not considered “complete” sources of protein because they do not have all 20. However, when varieties of vegetable sources that contain protein are consumed, one can generally receive adequate amounts of this nutrient without consuming animal products.
Protein Supplements
Since average human beings do not get the adequate amount of protein per day, it is suggested to take protein supplement like protein powder.
Protein powder supplements can be expensive, so it is important to choose a protein powder that not only works effectively but tastes great as well. You are less likely to use the protein powder if it tastes bad.
Protein powders come in two types. Traditional “pure protein” powders contain little to no added sugars while the weight gainers and meal-replacement powders contain a higher ratio of carbohydrates to proteins.