Protein – which, in Greek was supposed to mean -- ``of primary importance’’ is an important essential for the human body. It has a certain effect on your brain that makes you feel more satisfied after every meal and therefore helps you feel ``full’’.
One gram of protein contains four calories, exactly like one gram of carbohydrates, but unlike fat, which contains 9 calories for every gram.
Protein is used as material for building and repairing the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, teeth, skin, hair, nails, blood and internal organs. In fact, every function of every living cell of the human body depends upon proteins. And, every living cell except bile and urine contains protein. You need the right amount of protein to maintain your blood pressure, blood sugar level and your metabolism.
Protein is formed by synthesizing amino acids in the body, which needs 22 such acids. There are certain acids that are non-essential which the body manufactures by itself. You get these from fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And there are the essential acids which you get from the outside through complete proteins such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds and dairy products.
Proteins are, by and large, good. But sometimes, even they can go bad. This happens in cases when the meat comes from livestock that has been injected with chemicals or poor quality chicken that has been bred in cages, or even from fish that has had a land-based diet. Moreover, never overcook the meat so as to prevent it from losing its essential value.
Having taken care of all this, go ahead…get your proteins for the day. And follow the 40-30-30 rule for your intake:- 40 % carbohydrates, 30% protein and 30% fat. And that’s all there to it.
Comments
- sameerb, Aug 14, 2007 at 09:16 AM PDT said:
Nice article! Good point scooper
- scooper, Aug 14, 2007 at 12:50 AM PDT said:
Protein has been one of the most valuable source of evolution of humans. We could have never achieved the complexity of brain unless during our evolution we started consuming meat and got large amount of protein that was needed for the brain to develop to this level.
