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Virtually, every components of the body is made up of protein, the hair, muscle, bone, skin, even the tissues.
Protein comprises of hormones and enzymes that speed up chemical reactions and the hemoglobin that sustain oxygen in the blood.
In human body, it is required for many functions like tissue repair, growth, formation of hormones, integral part of the immune system.
When protein is consumed, it turn to amino acids – the build blocks of the body.
There are essential amino acid and non essential – methionine, isoleucin, phenylalanine, valine, lysine leucine, threonine, tryptophan. While non-essential are amino acids – serine, aspartic acids, cystine, cysteine, proline, tyrosine, Glutamic acid, glycine and hydroxproline.
To obtain a generous amount of this macronutrient opt for meat, milk, poultry, fish, beans and vegetables
However, its health benefits include; source of energy, Hair Growth, youthful skin, boost immune system, weight loss, improve longivety, restful sleep, regulate blood glucose, nerves signal and transmission.
Deficiency include; hair loss, decoration, scalp disorder, poor growth, anemia to mention but a few.
Here are the health Benefits
1. Boost Muscle Mass
Enough intake of protein rich foods contribute immensely in increasing your muscles mass and strength. Interestingly, muscle is main constituent of protein, hence to increase your muscles mass add more of animal and plants packed foods.
2. May Lower Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the causes of metabolic diseases. It helps increase hormones required for regulation of blood pressure. Importantly, eating substantial amounts of protein helps reduce blood pressure. Different studies conducted revealed that eating larger amount of protein can aid optimisation of blood pressure (1)
3. Provide Energy
Protein is essential in terms of energy production, this happens when there is very low carbohydrates in the body. Glucose, a products of carbohydrates is the common source of energy in the body. Fat contributes also in energy generation. In addition, eating protein-rich foods support energy production, as well as maintenance of a healthy life style.
4. Promote Hair Growth
Deficiency of protein in the body result hair loss, hair decoloration, and scalp disorder. Amino acids and vitamin C are highly required for collagen synthesis – a healthy hair is rich in protein collagen. Therefore, consumption of proteinaceous foods promote hair growth, and limit all symptoms attributed to poor hair growth. Also, protein is a major component of hair.
5. Maintain Youthful Skin
The importance of this nutrient in the body cannot be overstated, as it helps maintain youthful skin. Skin as a structural components of protein, houses elastin and collagen that makes the skin to perform its functions effectively. Adequate intake of protein- rich foods assist in improving skin care.
6. Boost immune system
Insufficient consumption of proteinaceous foods can decrease production of antibodies. This compromise the body defence mechanism, and raise risk of infection cause by foreign bodies. Taking recommended amount daily will greatly strengthen your immune and reduce pathogenic growth.
7. Good For The Body
Protein plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle repair and synthesis. It is used up daily by the liver; also muscle tissues is broken down during athletic activities. Replacing it becomes very Paramount since it ensure muscle repair and formation. For instance, many people suffers wasting after recovering from illness, it helps provide calories and repair muscle loss.
8. Support Weight loss
Taking protein- rich foods can be very helpful in weight reduction due to the thermic effect. Comparatively, the macronutrient has a high thermic effect making it ideal for weight reduction. Thermic effect is the amount of calories required for complete digestion of food and absorption. Similarly, it decreases your level of hunger hormone ghrelin (1 ) They also enhance the concentration of peptide, a hormone that makes you feel full.
9. Enhance Nerves Signal Transmission
Inadequate intake of protein can leads to numerous nervous system disorder due to loss of electrical transmission. Moreover, the health-promoting nutrient ensure production and maintenance of myelin sheath. Adequate eating of protein rich foods will effectively support electrical signal.
9. Help Improve longevity
One of the important functions of protein is the ability to increase lifespan. To obtain this advantage, consume more of protein rich foods, which facilitate growth factors thus enhancing cellular recovery.
10. Improve Restful Sleep
Meeting up recommended dietary intake for protein helps maintain metabolic activities, the enzymes, hormones in the body. It helps maintain sleep by regulating a neurotransmitters – which is obtained from amino acids sequence meaning it deficiency leads to fatigue, depression and stress.
11. Regulate Blood Glucose & Diabetes Control
Protein regulate blood glucose, owing to the fact that protein plays a very crucial role in the production of peptide hormones insulin that moderate diabetes management as well. This helps control blood glucose levels after effective digestion and absorption of foods. Maintaining insulin, coupled with regular exercises, dietary, and medications, type 11 diabetes can be managed and controlled – expert.
12. Helps maintain The Joint Health
Sufficient amount of protein helps in bone building and maintenance. Maintaining the cartilaginous structural of the joint which consists of collagen that work by supporting the bone not to rub against each other.
Conclusion
Protein is very essential for many bodily functions. It covers a wide range of health benefits like immune boosting, and improve longevity. There are essential amino acid and non essential – methionine, isoleucin, phenylalanine, valine, lysine leucine, threonine, tryptophan.
