Nothing is more important than protein. It is the fuel that works to support your body when building healthy cells, we cannot go without protein.
Proteins are found in the foods we eat. They are considered long chains of amino acids that are important molecules. You can find protein in veggies, beans, and seeds but the highest sources are animal sources things like meat, eggs, and dairy. Proteins keep our bodies going day in and day out. We use them to maintain our bodies. Protein is involved in literally almost every single thing bodily function we perform.
Now that being said, most people do not get the right amount of protein per day. Did you know that if you weigh 150 pounds you should be ingesting around 75grams of protein each day in order to burn fat and build the proper muscle mass needed? Specific proteins have even been found to play a critical role when it comes to aging.
Researcher Jan van Deursen, Ph.D. from the Mayo clinic who was doing a study on the cause of cancer found this out when his study went in a very different but still interesting direction. Van Deursen and his team created genetically modified mice that had a protein deficiency in one specific type of protein, BubR1 to be exact. In this they were able to reveal that the mice who were deficient in this protein aged four to five times faster than the control group of normal mice.
This is a protein that naturally occurs and decreases as we age. This study was able to link the deficiency of this specific protein to a number of health issues commonly associated with the elderly. Health issues like cataracts, heart problems, and muscle atrophy.
Not consuming enough protein can cause symptoms like weight loss issues, fatigue, joint pain, bone aches, mood swings, blood sugar changes, trouble learning, and other things similar to these. It is not something that should be taken lightly. Regardless of your diet preferences, you need to get the proper amount of protein.
9 Signs Your Body Isn’t Getting Enough Protein:
Pushing forward with a diet that is low in protein can raise your risks for muscle loss, slow bone healing, bone weakness, falling and other serious issues. Our bodies need protein for calcium absorption and bone metabolism. Maintaining a diet high in amino acids can help treat muscle loss related to old age.
You are dealing with high cholesterol.
This is something that is not only caused by eating too many fatty foods, it can also be the result of something like inflammation, high processed/sugar diets, or hormonal imbalances. Do not replace proteins with snacks. Junk food does no good. There have actually been some studies to suggest that there is an inverse relationship between protein intake and heart disease risks.
Your period becomes irregular.
Actually, one of the most common reasons why women deal with irregular periods as well as infertility is something known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS.) This is something that has risk factors including obesity and diabetes. around sixty percent of all women who deal with PCOS are insulin resistant which can be contributed to by having a low protein diet.
You have become more moody and nervous.
When it comes to your mood amino acids are behind it all. They are the building blocks for our neurotransmitters that control our moods. Without proteins, we would not be able to use our brains to synthesize hormones like serotonin that make us feel positive.
You have gained weight.
High protein foods are known to increase satiety much more so than fats or carbs do. They are able to prevent overeating and unnecessary snacking. If you’re gaining weight but aren’t sure why it could be related to your protein intake.
Your workouts are not getting you anywhere.
Protein in necessary when it comes to building new muscle mass as well as sustaining energy. If you are on a low protein diet then you may end up dealing with muscle wasting (muscle atrophy), fatigue, or fat gain. If your diet is not adequate then working out is not going to do much for you. Proper diet and working out goes hand in hand.
You’re overly gassy but cannot go to the bathroom.
Like I mentioned above protein has something to do with just about every single thing we do, this includes things like digestive functions. If you feel ran down and are protein deficient then your digestion process in general, will suffer.
Your mind is cloudy.
You also need protein for things like healthy neurological functioning. Low-protein diets can result in things like brain fog, poor concentration, trouble learning, and a lack of motivation. This is an issue that can become quite serious fast. Getting the right amount of protein will boost your work performance.
You just can’t seem to get a good nights sleep.
Poor sleep has been linked to unstable blood sugar levels as well as a decrease in serotonin production. Eating foods with high protein levels before bed can help resolve these issues and give you a good nights rest.
Your immune system is much weaker than usual.
Our bodies rely on antibodies to fight off infections that are caused by bacteria and viruses. Since antibodies are proteins themselves a protein deficiency will almost always have negative consequences for your immune system. Not getting enough protein will leave you unable to fight off invaders depending on how long the issue rides out.
When looking into how much protein you should take in a day you will have to consider your weight, gender, age, and level of activity. According to the USDA, the daily recommended minimum for adults is 56 grams for men and 46 grams for women. Eating a mix of plant and animal-based options is the best approach when trying to get the right amount of proteins. However, if you do not eat meat you can get the right amount of protein from veggies, beans, and nuts with a little work.
Getting the right amount of protein in your diet will benefit your health in the following ways:
- Balancing your blood sugar
- Improving brain function
- Resolve some depression issues
- Muscle recovery
Now, that is just naming a few of the many benefits. If you want to learn about which foods are rich in protein for both meat eaters and those who do not eat meat please watch the following videos. I hope you take the time to consider these things and ensure you are getting the proper amount of protein in your diet.