posted by Administrator on Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at 4:05 am and is filed under Health, Proteins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Protein is an essential nutrient whose name comes from the Greek word “protos,” which means “first.” To visualize a molecule of protein, think of a very long chain with links (these links are nothing but amino acids). These are essential for cell regulation, growth, and repair.
Key Functions
- The body uses protein to build new cells, maintain tissues and regulate cell function.
- About half of the protein consumed daily is converted into enzymes (the “worker proteins”, it regulates the speed of biological reactions such as digesting food and assembling or dividing molecules to make new cells and chemical substances. To perform these functions, enzymes often need specific vitamins and minerals.
There are about 22 different amino acids that the body requires to make all the necessary proteins. Nine are considered to be essential, meaning they are not synthesized by the body and must be obtained from food. Our bodies can produce the other 13 from fats, carbohydrates, and other amino acids. So, these are referred to as non-essential amino acids.
Food Sources
Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, legumes and soy.
Usage
It is possible to consume too much protein. The amount of protein needed for good health varies. An average healthy adult man or woman needs about 0.8 grams of protein per every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. Infants, adolescents, pregnant women, individuals with injuries, and athletes may often require more protein on a daily basis.
Safety Evidence
Several medical conditions make it difficult for people to digest and process proteins properly. As a result, waste products build up in different parts of the body. Check with your physician for individual safety concerns you may have.
Effects of deficiency
- Retarded growth in children.
- Worn out cells are not replaced. This prevents healing of wounds.
- Malfunction of various organs due to hormone / enzyme deficiency.
- Susceptibility to disease, due to lack of antibodies.
Caution
As you grow older, new proteins are synthesized less efficiently, and muscle mass (protein tissue) diminishes while fat content stays the same or rises. This is why muscle seems to “turn to fat” in old age.
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