Nowadays it seems everywhere we can hear people promoting a new diet program that praises the power of protein for health and weight loss. Whether to gain weight, to lose weight or maintaining current weight, the importance of protein goes far beyond physical appearance and muscle building.
Protein For Health – A Necessity For Everyone.Protein is an important component of every cell in the body. It is an organic compound, composed of 22 amino acids, otherwise known as the building blocks of life. Protein is stored in muscles and organs, and the body utilizes it to build and repair tissues, as well as for the production of enzymes and hormones.
Protein also makes it possible for blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. Along with fat and carbohydrates, protein is a “macronutrient,” meaning the body needs relatively large amounts of it. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has concluded that our daily protein requirements should be 10 percent to 35 percent of our total caloric intake, with men needing slightly more than women.
A lack of protein can cause loss of muscle mass, decreased immunity, as well as weakening of the heart and respiratory system.
Protein For Weight Loss. The widespread popularity of high protein diet in weight loss is due in large part to their ability to help manage hunger. When protein is absorbed, it sends a signal to the brain to decrease your hunger. Another benefit of protein is that it raises your resting metabolism by maintaining muscle mass.
As we age, muscle mass decreases without exercise, so staying fit is a key to burning fat by keeping your metabolism high. Protein also leads to a much less rapid rise and fall of blood sugar and insulin, so you avoid the “sugar highs and lows” after eating sweets without adequate protein. Certain foods, however, provide a healthier resource for protein than others.
Consider The Source Of Protein You can obtain healthy sources of protein without high levels of saturated fat. For example, soybeans, nuts and whole grains provide protein without much saturated fat and offer plenty of healthful fiber and micronutrients as well.How To Obtain Healthy ProteinIf you’re looking for yet another great way to obtain healthy protein, vegetable sources of protein must be high quality and have lower calorie levels with virtually no added fat. Choose weight management program that able to help you build or maintain lean muscle while providing healthy weight-management support.
Now that you’ve increased your knowledge of protein, you can effectively enhance your diet and allow good health to take shape.