Posted by jujube on February 5, 2005, at 12:57:17
In reply to protein and fat metabolism, posted by CareBear04 on February 3, 2005, at 20:39:57
I am certainly no expert, so I will just share with you information I have extracted from documents I had come across when I was trying to better inform myself on why protein is such an important element in a balanced diet.
First, I have read that protein, which is made up of chains of amino acids, some of which our bodies cannot manufacture, is essential for building and mantaining muscles, as well as repairing the muscle damage that occurs during training. Protein is also needed to make red blood cells, produce hormones, boost your immune (disease-fighting) system, and help keep hair, fingernails, and skin healthy.
I have also read that, contrary to popular belief, you do not build muscle when you workout. When you lift weights, you are actually breaking down your muscle tissue. Immediately after working out, your body begins to repair and recover. It does this by taking protein and breaking it down into individual Amino Acids, then reconfiguring them and placing them wherever they need to go. Instead of just rebuilding your muscle back to normal, your body super compensates. That means that you will be gaining muscle. This is what happens if you have enough protein in your system. On the other hand, if you don't have enough protein, your body goes into a catabolic state (defined as destructive metabolism involving the release of energy and resulting in the breakdown of complex materials within the organism). Apparently, this is what happens to most people. In this situation, your body does not have enough protein to rebuild, so it begins to break down your existing muscle to repair what was broken down in the gym. Obviously, this is not productive. This is the reason why so many people don't get the results they want and get disillusioned with working out. Fortunately, I have read, you can avoid this common mistake by simply taking in an adequate amount of protein each and every day.
So protein is an important and vital part of a person's diet. Protein is required for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all body tissues. It is also required for the formation of enzymes and hormones that regulate body processes. Certain proteins transport oxygen, while others facilitate muscle contraction. As antibodies, they are involved in the function of the immune system. Protein can act as an energy source when needed in the fasting state or during extended physical exertion. Many vitamins and minerals are bound to specific protein carriers for transport.Protein is also necessary for blood clotting and fluid balance. In other words,proteins play a vital role in virtually every metabolic, structural,and physiologic process required for life!
The body makes adjustments for low protein intake depending on the quality of the protein ingested and the level of energy intake. Beyond a critical point,however, the body can no longer adapt. Because protein is life sustaining, a dietary protein deficiency has a profound effect on the body; wasting of body tissues, fatty liver, diminished immune response, weakness, loss of vigor, and a host of other metabolic and physiologic consequences develop. Protein deficiency can also result in impaired growth in infants and children. With increasing age, lean muscle mass decreases and body fat mass icreases. Women tend to be more protein deficient than men and therefore start to lose lean muscle mass earlier than men. This decline in skeletal muscle mass may contribute to age-related reductions in bone density, insulin sensitivity, and aerobic capacity. So, increasing muscle mass and strength may be an important way to increase functional independence and decrease the prevalence of many age-associated chronic diseases.
Meat is not the only source of protein. Eggs and cheese are protein sources. And, based on my reading, next to meat, cheese and eggs, legumes – beans, peas and nuts – have the most protein. But they are called incomplete proteins because they are lacking some essential amino acids. You can get complete protein if you combine them with plant foods from one of these categories – grains, seeds and nuts, and vegetables. Eat any two or more of these plant foods, with or without beans, and you get complete protein. Apparently, You do not have to eat these foods in the same dish, or even in the same meal. But many cultures have created combinations that work well – like corn and beans in Mexico, or rice and split peas in India. Many Americans enjoy legumes and grains in a peanut butter sandwich.
http://www.fitamerica.com/famd/opages/importanceofproteins.asp
poster:jujube
thread:452737
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20050105/msgs/453613.html