Monday, May 25, 2015

Protein, an important ingredient for good health.

My Grandmother used to say, “Good health comes through the stomach”. I couldn’t agree more. But in grandma’s time we ate good unprocessed food, devoid of pesticides and harmful additives. Today, these are hard to avoid, unless we buy organics or grow our own veggies. Nobody then would have heard the word protein. Today we are better informed and most people know that we should have protein in our diet, but don’t really know what it is or why we need it.

Here is a short explanation by Jessica Migala of the power of protein. The difference between a snack that has staying power and one that leaves you hungry an hour later? Protein. This nutrient is a hunger-busting powerhouse because it slows digestion and keeps blood sugar steady, and research shows protein helps keep cravings at bay. "Protein can help you lose weight because it increases satisfaction, and when you feel satisfied from your eating plan, you're better able to stick with it.
Following are some interesting facts about protein, which you may have never known. As always, I wish you good health. - Werner
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30 Facts You May not Know about Protein.
 Is it possible to live without protein? What happens when there is too much or too little protein in the body? What is the best fish protein and what cheese? What differs animal protein from vegetable protein? And, is the protein in eggs the best quality of protein?

1. Protein is a core building block for the trillions of cells in the human body. Without protein, no life could exist. The only material which is more common in the body than protein is water. 18%-20% of the body is protein.

2. The human body has about 100,000 different types of protein. The body needs them to grow, heal and sustain all the body's chemical reactions.

3. The word protein is derived from the Greek word - proteios meaning "first".

4. Proteins in the body come in many shapes and sizes. Simple proteins look like "little trains" with a lot of cars. Each "car" or such protein unit, is called an amino acid. What is common to all the different types of proteins in the body is that they are all complex chemicals made from over 20 different types of amino acids.

5. While beef is a much more popular meat than chicken, the protein content is lower than that found in chicken meat.

6. Excess protein can also cause weight gain.

7. In 2010, the athlete Ben Pearson, then 20, increased his protein intake to increase muscle size. However, he did not know he had a rare genetic disorder that prevented his body from breaking down proteins. High levels of protein in his body caused increased production of ammonia in the blood, causing the brain to swell and tragically, caused Pearson's death.

8. Hair is composed of insoluble fibrous and non-digested protein called keratin. Keratin protein appears in the form of a coil and a creates the horned tissue of the body, such as nails and hair. Curtin has sulfur bonds that make hair curly. The more sulphur ties, the more curly hair.

9. Proteins, like carbohydrates and fats, are considered one of the major nutrients, this is because they provide energy (calories) to the body. While proteins and carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram, fat provides 9 calories per gram. The only other substance that provides calories is alcohol. However, it is not considered one of the major nutrition sources of the food because it is not nutritious and people do not need it to survive.

10. Proteins present in certain foods can cause allergies, because the structure of the protein may trigger an immune response. For example: Many people are allergic to gluten, a protein found mainly in cereal.

11. Of all the types of cheese, Parmesan cheese that is low in sodium contains the most protein - 41.6 grams per serving of 100 grams.
12. Of fish, yellow tuna contains the most protein (30 grams per serving of 100 grams). After it on the list: anchovies (29 gr), salmon (27 g), halibut (27 g) and tilapia (26 grams).

13. The older and bigger a legume, so the amount of protein in it is larger. Of legumes, roasted and fully matured soybean seeds and adults contain the largest amount of protein - 39.6 grams per 100 grams.

14. Pumpkin seeds provide 33 grams of protein per serving of 100 grams, while watermelon seeds provide a little less than 28 grams per 100 grams.

15. Too much protein can be dangerous to the body. For example, high levels of protein can create a strain on the liver and kidneys and cause them to work extra hard to dismantle and dispose of the extra protein.

16. One of the smallest countries in the world, Luxembourg, is one of the largest meat-eating countries in the world. In Luxembourg, each resident can average about -136 kg per year. In second place are Americans with an annual average of 125 kg per person, and Austria comes in at third place with an average annual consumption of 120 kg of animal protein.

17. Although the population in India exceeds a billion, it is considered the country with the lowest meat consumption, with an average of 3 pounds of meat per person. In second place, Bangladesh with an average of 4 kg of meat per person and in third place, the Democratic Republic of Congo with an average Annual of 5 kg of meat per person.

18. The protein in eggs is considered the highest quality protein of all foods.

19. In the past, cow protein was considered the most eaten animal protein, today it is the pig.

20. Researchers found that certain mutations in protein may increase the risk of autism. Specifically, when a protein called Shank3 mutates, it can cause a disruption in the connections between neurons, which affects the chances of autism.

21. Without the protein called albumin, the entire human body would be swollen from liquids.  Low levels of albumin are found in patients with over-hydration (pathological accumulation of water), in people with extensive burns, kidney disease, problems absorbing food and people suffering from malnutrition. In third world countries - protein diet and lack of food are common problems that cause the swelling of the abdomen from the absence of albumin and osmotic imbalance of body fluids.

22. Protein deficiency can cause serious health problems. For example, children with protein deficiency may develop a condition known as Kooshiorkor. Symptoms include protruding belly, thinning hair, weight loss and faded skin color. If the phenomenon is not treated properly, it can lead to stunted growth, mental disorders and even death.
23. Protein found in male semen acts on the female brain to stimulate ovulation.

24. For most people, the recommendation is to consume 1 gram of protein per 1 kg of their body weight. Example: A man weighing 80 kg, should consume at least 80 grams of protein each day.

25. Failure to absorb protein can cause diseases such as Alzheimer's and cancer.
26. Insects provide a higher quality form of protein compared to many common forms of food. For example, 100 grams of beef steak contain 29 grams of protein and 21 fats - on the other hand, 100 grams of grasshopper contain 20 grams of protein and only 6 grams of fat.

27. Complete protein is a protein that contains all nine essential amino acids. In most cases (but not all) animal protein such as beef, chicken, fish, dairy products and eggs, is considered a complete protein. Incomplete protein sources for example are nuts and vegetables.

28. Protein intake affects the body in many ways. Mainly: bone cell synthesis, production of red blood cells, heart cells turnover rate, neurotransmitters responsible for mood, antibody immune function, producing enzymes and hormones, flexibility, muscle, organ function and balance of acidity.

29. Middle-aged people don't have the more flexible body of young people, which means they need to consume much more protein. But middle-age rate of acid production Hhidroclorit helps digest the protein down to half rate. Because protein is essential for cell regeneration, a large part of the researchers argue that this main reason for aging.

30. Vegetable sources of protein include legumes, nuts, seeds and fruit. Plants low in protein includes roots and tubers, like yams and potatoes. Source of this article.
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Further reading.
Eat balanced.
Good protein sources.
Top ten foods high in Protein.
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My thought for today.
Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it. ~Josh Billings
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4 comments:

Elisa Hunter said...

What an edifying posting! I have read many times that “protein” is good for us. However, I never had the time or inclination to find out what it actually is and what it does for m us. You have served all I need to know on a “platter” for me. Thank you, Werner.

Gaye said...

Yes, we recommend Aminoplex for kids with ADD or Aspergers etc.. it helps them sleep and their emotions and calms them down, thanks Werner, I have gone off beef, hate lamb, chicken, pork but like fish..

Young Mother said...

I agree with Elisa Hunter’s comment. And, yes, I found this posting very interesting and now I know what protein is and what an important factor it is for good health. I had also a look at some of your “labels” – I must say, your blog is a real treasure-trove. Thanks, Werner

Dymity said...

Many thanks Werner for some more interesting information to promote our good health. ...