Protein Supplements and Your Body

Protein is the major constituent of the body. The word protein is originated from a Greek word meaning the ‘primary importance’. Proteins are naturally occurring colloidal complex combinations of amino acids. Proteins are the essential constituents of all living cells. It is the building and the repairing material for all tissues. So, protein is required in making and maintenance of all internal organs, muscles, bones, teeth, skin, hair, nails, internal organs and blood.

The requirement of protein is different in different stages of growth. The requirement of protein for a one year old child is about 1 gram per kilogram weight of the body. As he grows up it increases to 60-70 grams per kilogram of the weight. A woman needs 85-100 grams of it during pregnancy and lactation period. Protein molecules also produce certain enzymes and hormones those serve as the important regulators of the body. They are the agents to control the metabolism, blood pressure and the level of blood sugar.

The protein required normally by the body can be obtained from different kinds of foods. Food items like Egg, fish, soybean etc are rich in proteins. Even though a regular planned diet can supply protein for your body, many situations will arise wherein we miss the required amount of it. The deficiency of protein leads to many health problems. Also protein is more required, if you want to build muscles. The pregnant or lactating woman also needs more protein for the body. Hence we have to think of other alternatives to supply protein directly.

Protein supplements are helpful to overcome any such situations. Protein supplements are the combinations of protein with some necessary nutrients intended to provide protein to the body when it is lacking in one’s diet. Also, some diet experts are pointing to the advantages of protein supplements over the food. Some of them are, the higher quality of protein, direct absorption and adequate quantity. The quality of protein is measured by different concepts and scales. They are Biological Value (BV), Protein Efficiency Ratio (PFR), Net protein Utilization (NPU) and Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS). Most commonly used scale is BV. It is based on the quantity of protein absorbed and utilized by the body over the protein consumed. As the BV value increases, the amount of protein retained by the body will be higher. We cannot completely depend on the quality facts given by the manufacturer as they may try to create confusions for the marketing purposes. When different scales are used together, it can also lead to misunderstanding for the consumer. So, it is better to seek the opinion from a medical or diet expert to get a clear idea before starting a supplement.

Protein supplements can play a vital role in weight reduction too. When we are consuming protein supplements, we can reduce the quantity of food intake. Thus the fat and carbohydrates received by the body on a regular basis will reduce and it will help in weight reduction. As protein is supplied directly as supplements, the side effects of weight reducing diet program will not affect the body.

Though we cannot solely depend on our food intake for necessary protein, it is highly required to plan your food as per nutrition facts. There are enough food items with us those can provide wholesome protein. But when it is necessary, supplements can also be a source. But, never take the protein supplements as an alternative to natural food. Our body needs natural food items for its complete health.

Linus Orakles
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