Quite a lot has been said for and against the increased use of proteins in diets to help people lose weight. However, a good understanding of the role proteins play in maintaining a healthy body and also the impact they have on weight loss will help in properly evaluating the arguments from both sides.
Proteins, a large number of organic compounds, are made up of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. They play very important roles in the cellular maintenance, growth, and functioning of the human body. Apart from the muscles, skin, hair, and connective tissues being made up of it, the enzymes of the digestive system and the antibodies of the immune system are equally proteins, as are insulin and other hormones.
Amino acids are the fundamental building …show more content…
They are equally not a significant source of energy for the body if there is sufficient alternative amount of carbohydrates and fats. Therefore proteins can only be used as a major energy source when the body lacks sufficient amounts of both carbohydrates and fat. However, this is not actually economical for the body due to the fact that tissue maintenance, growth, and repair become significantly compromised in order to meet the body's energy demands.
Since the body is regularly renewing and repairing its tissues, an individual's protein requirement is mostly dependent on the rate of renewal or the stage of growth and development. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein consumption for an adult is about 0.79 g per kg (0.36 g per lb.) of body weight per day. For a 150-pound male, this translates to about 55 grams while it is about 44 grams for a 120-pound female. This is a recommended amount, not a minimum requirement.
Therefore, there is a wide range of amount of protein intake that an individual can make use of depending on certain periods of physical development such as for children and infants when this RDA value can be doubled and tripled, respectively, because of their rapid
Proteins, a large number of organic compounds, are made up of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen. They play very important roles in the cellular maintenance, growth, and functioning of the human body. Apart from the muscles, skin, hair, and connective tissues being made up of it, the enzymes of the digestive system and the antibodies of the immune system are equally proteins, as are insulin and other hormones.
Amino acids are the fundamental building …show more content…
They are equally not a significant source of energy for the body if there is sufficient alternative amount of carbohydrates and fats. Therefore proteins can only be used as a major energy source when the body lacks sufficient amounts of both carbohydrates and fat. However, this is not actually economical for the body due to the fact that tissue maintenance, growth, and repair become significantly compromised in order to meet the body's energy demands.
Since the body is regularly renewing and repairing its tissues, an individual's protein requirement is mostly dependent on the rate of renewal or the stage of growth and development. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) of protein consumption for an adult is about 0.79 g per kg (0.36 g per lb.) of body weight per day. For a 150-pound male, this translates to about 55 grams while it is about 44 grams for a 120-pound female. This is a recommended amount, not a minimum requirement.
Therefore, there is a wide range of amount of protein intake that an individual can make use of depending on certain periods of physical development such as for children and infants when this RDA value can be doubled and tripled, respectively, because of their rapid