In recent times, we’ve become more and more interested in how protein affects our health, and how it might help us to lose weight, largely due to the popularity of the Atkins’ diet. Eating protein is necessary for everyone, but it’s easy to create an imbalance of it relative to carbohydrate when we have fat loss, or indeed muscle building, in mind. With products like whey protein, soy protein, and other bodybuilding supplements becoming ubiquitous, its easy to get confused and carried away, and end up eating too much protein. Knowing exactly what protein is, the reasons why to eat protein, the best protein to eat, and how much the right amount is ensures better overall health for all of us. This article will shed light on the great protein mystery.
Protein is a macro-nutrient like carbohydrate and fat, and we need to consume all three of these macro-nutrients on a daily basis. Unlike carbohydrate and fat, your body can’t store protein. It’s made up of amino acids, which are key building blocks of our cells. Certain types of amino acids can be made by our bodies, but there are others which our bodies can’t make, so they’re called ‘essential’ amino acids. They are involved in some of the most basic workings of your body, so you have to consume them every day, or else things will stop working properly and you’ll be on your way to the doctor! Now that we understand the importance of eating proteins, how do we make sure we‘re getting the right amount?
Can you eat too much protein? Well, you may have noticed that there isn’t actually a consensus on what constitutes a healthy amount of protein to eat. Dr. Atkins advised that we eat a lot of protein and little carbohydrates, and this approach seems like it will be continued by many for years to come. Other medical professionals insist that we eat mainly carbs with a relatively small amount of protein for optimum health, stressing the ill affects of over consuming protein. This ‘one size fits all’ approach can only yield disagreement, because we’re all different and our metabolic systems work differently. In fact, your metabolism is as unique as your fingerprint! The right amount of protein for you is specific to you; there’s no general answer.
Understanding your metabolic type, and eating according to your actual macro-nutrient ratio requirements, is one of the most life-affirming discoveries possible. You’ll have higher energy levels, increased confidence and self-worth, you’ll lose weight if you’re overweight, and you’ll add muscle mass naturally if you’re underweight. A long held misconception in the bodybuilding world is that high protein eating results in better muscle growth, but it’s a practice that’s fine for some and very dangerous for others: it all depends on your specific metabolic type. The most accurate method of determining your metabolic type is provided by the Diet Solution Program.
Products such as Maxiraw protein are an effective way to take on the right amount of protein you need without the risk of over- or underdevelopment.
