Physiological Protein, the Protein Myth, and Disease
Protein is scientifically defined as compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms, arranged into amino acids linked in a chain.
Some amino acids also contain sulfur atoms.
Protein is the vital structural and working substance of all the body's cells and is one the three energy-yielding nutrients that also include carbohydrates and fats.
Protein yields 4 kilo-calories per gram of energy, which is measured as a kilo-calorie or a calorie.
A calorie is a unit by which energy is measured in the body from the breakdown of foodstuff in the form of nutrients.
Protein is found in milk, eggs, legumes, grains, vegetables, and meat.
Peanuts, which are considered a legume, contain 7 grams of protein per tablespoon of peanut butter.
This equates to one-tablespoon of peanut butter yielding 28 kilo-calorie of energy or (7g protein X 4kilo-calories/g =28 kilo-calories).
One could not fully understand the physiologic role of protein in the diet without understanding amino acids.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Each protein contains an amino group, an acid group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side group, all attached to a central carbon atom.
Proteins are made up of twenty common amino acids but there are nine essential amino acids that the body cannot manufacture, which must come from food sources.
They are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lycine, methione, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.
The other eleven from alonine to tyrosine are synthesized in the body.
Complete proteins are created by the combination of the different amino acids.
The breakdown of foodstuff into amino acids is started in the stomach by the digestive process.
Secondly they are hydrolyzed in the small intestine by enzymes such as protease and peptidase and enter the circulatory system for absorption into the cells.
The instructions for creating the protein, which the body uses, are synthesized by the DNA.
The DNA, our genetic information, is contained within the nucleus of every cell in the body and contains the instruction for protein synthesis or the creation of the functioning proteins in the body.
Proteins are then used for building our bodies, as enzymes, hormones, regulators of fluid balance, acid-base regulators, transporters, antibodies, sources of energy and many other roles.
In short, proteins are the building blocks of the entire body but are also many of the functioning aspects of the living healthy human being as well.
I would like to discuss a few of the diseases associated with high-protein diets and low or no-protein diets like those consumed by vegetarians.
On his website, Gabriel Cousins, a leading M.
D.
and Naturopathic physician quotes Dr.
Paavo Airola, a leading authority on nutrition and natural biology.
As to the protein question (as it relates to under-consumption), Dr.
Paavo Airola, said that overeating protein contributes to the development of many of our most common and serious diseases, such as arthritis, kidney damage, pyorrhea, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) website also describes that pathology of diseases that are caused by its over-consumption.
Some of the diseases include Kidney Disease, Cancer, Osteoporosis and Kidney Disease.
When people eat too much protein, they take in more nitrogen than they need.
This places a strain on the kidneys, which must expel the extra nitrogen through urine.
Cancer: Although fat is the dietary substance most often singled out for increasing cancer risk, protein also plays a role.
Populations who eat meat regularly are at increased risk for colon cancer, and researchers believe that the fat, protein, natural carcinogens, and absence of fiber in meat all play roles.
Diets rich in animal protein cause people to excrete more calcium than normal through their kidneys and increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
According to Beverly Mittelman, a nutritionist and authority on diet and nutrition is that the best thing one can do for their health is eat a good breakfast that is high in protein.
She goes on to explain that we need a high protein breakfast instead of the usual American diet of that is high in starch and refined sugar, but is low in protein.
An example of an unhealthy breakfast would be a bowl of dry processed cereal with sugar, buttered toast and a cup of coffee.
This fully carbohydrate type of breakfast would cause blood sugar (glucose) to rise, which in turn would cause a flood of insulin, thereby overtaxing the pancreas.
A diet such as this causes low periods of energy in the morning and a craving for more sweets and caffeine.
Many go for the doughnut or candy bar and coffee routine, mid morning.
In this way adrenaline is increased and what ensues is a fluctuation in blood sugar causing potential diabetic problems.
A healthy approach to breakfast would include a bowl of hot cereal and milk, 100% whole grain bread (as toast) and some fresh fruit.
This would supply an adequate supply of protein and a lower amount of insulin to process the low level of carbohydrates consumed.
Some people eat no breakfast at all and have no energy (glucose) for their brains, which consumes up to 50% of the nutrition from carbohydrates.
Some sound advice then is to create a super shake of sorts, which would contain about 15 grams of protein.
This would consist of two tablespoons of protein powder, 8 oz.
of soy milk or regular milk (low fat of course), some honey if desired, flax seed oil and a banana.
A vegetarian's adequate daily intake of protein is very important, so one needs to assure that that they at least drink a protein shake every morning, and one later in the day, if need be.
Not only does this add about 15 - 30 grams of protein immediately to the diet, it ensures that the regulation of insulin is adjusted also.
The adequate intake of protein allows many functions of the body to take place such as creating bone and muscle mass, digestion, hormonal balance such as insulin production and use, fluid balance, acid-base regulation, transportation of substances through the bloodstream, antibody production, as a source of energy and other roles.
All in all, it is much healthier to consume a diet that is moderately high in protein than to concentrate on high carbohydrates and sugar (and fat) intake, as many people do first thing in the morning, as well as throughout the day.
A regulated intake of protein is adequate and healthy, and therefore should not encourage the formation any of diseases associated with inadequate or over-consumption of protein.
Some amino acids also contain sulfur atoms.
Protein is the vital structural and working substance of all the body's cells and is one the three energy-yielding nutrients that also include carbohydrates and fats.
Protein yields 4 kilo-calories per gram of energy, which is measured as a kilo-calorie or a calorie.
A calorie is a unit by which energy is measured in the body from the breakdown of foodstuff in the form of nutrients.
Protein is found in milk, eggs, legumes, grains, vegetables, and meat.
Peanuts, which are considered a legume, contain 7 grams of protein per tablespoon of peanut butter.
This equates to one-tablespoon of peanut butter yielding 28 kilo-calorie of energy or (7g protein X 4kilo-calories/g =28 kilo-calories).
One could not fully understand the physiologic role of protein in the diet without understanding amino acids.
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Each protein contains an amino group, an acid group, a hydrogen atom, and a distinctive side group, all attached to a central carbon atom.
Proteins are made up of twenty common amino acids but there are nine essential amino acids that the body cannot manufacture, which must come from food sources.
They are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lycine, methione, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine.
The other eleven from alonine to tyrosine are synthesized in the body.
Complete proteins are created by the combination of the different amino acids.
The breakdown of foodstuff into amino acids is started in the stomach by the digestive process.
Secondly they are hydrolyzed in the small intestine by enzymes such as protease and peptidase and enter the circulatory system for absorption into the cells.
The instructions for creating the protein, which the body uses, are synthesized by the DNA.
The DNA, our genetic information, is contained within the nucleus of every cell in the body and contains the instruction for protein synthesis or the creation of the functioning proteins in the body.
Proteins are then used for building our bodies, as enzymes, hormones, regulators of fluid balance, acid-base regulators, transporters, antibodies, sources of energy and many other roles.
In short, proteins are the building blocks of the entire body but are also many of the functioning aspects of the living healthy human being as well.
I would like to discuss a few of the diseases associated with high-protein diets and low or no-protein diets like those consumed by vegetarians.
On his website, Gabriel Cousins, a leading M.
D.
and Naturopathic physician quotes Dr.
Paavo Airola, a leading authority on nutrition and natural biology.
As to the protein question (as it relates to under-consumption), Dr.
Paavo Airola, said that overeating protein contributes to the development of many of our most common and serious diseases, such as arthritis, kidney damage, pyorrhea, osteoporosis, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and cancer.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's (PCRM) website also describes that pathology of diseases that are caused by its over-consumption.
Some of the diseases include Kidney Disease, Cancer, Osteoporosis and Kidney Disease.
When people eat too much protein, they take in more nitrogen than they need.
This places a strain on the kidneys, which must expel the extra nitrogen through urine.
Cancer: Although fat is the dietary substance most often singled out for increasing cancer risk, protein also plays a role.
Populations who eat meat regularly are at increased risk for colon cancer, and researchers believe that the fat, protein, natural carcinogens, and absence of fiber in meat all play roles.
Diets rich in animal protein cause people to excrete more calcium than normal through their kidneys and increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
According to Beverly Mittelman, a nutritionist and authority on diet and nutrition is that the best thing one can do for their health is eat a good breakfast that is high in protein.
She goes on to explain that we need a high protein breakfast instead of the usual American diet of that is high in starch and refined sugar, but is low in protein.
An example of an unhealthy breakfast would be a bowl of dry processed cereal with sugar, buttered toast and a cup of coffee.
This fully carbohydrate type of breakfast would cause blood sugar (glucose) to rise, which in turn would cause a flood of insulin, thereby overtaxing the pancreas.
A diet such as this causes low periods of energy in the morning and a craving for more sweets and caffeine.
Many go for the doughnut or candy bar and coffee routine, mid morning.
In this way adrenaline is increased and what ensues is a fluctuation in blood sugar causing potential diabetic problems.
A healthy approach to breakfast would include a bowl of hot cereal and milk, 100% whole grain bread (as toast) and some fresh fruit.
This would supply an adequate supply of protein and a lower amount of insulin to process the low level of carbohydrates consumed.
Some people eat no breakfast at all and have no energy (glucose) for their brains, which consumes up to 50% of the nutrition from carbohydrates.
Some sound advice then is to create a super shake of sorts, which would contain about 15 grams of protein.
This would consist of two tablespoons of protein powder, 8 oz.
of soy milk or regular milk (low fat of course), some honey if desired, flax seed oil and a banana.
A vegetarian's adequate daily intake of protein is very important, so one needs to assure that that they at least drink a protein shake every morning, and one later in the day, if need be.
Not only does this add about 15 - 30 grams of protein immediately to the diet, it ensures that the regulation of insulin is adjusted also.
The adequate intake of protein allows many functions of the body to take place such as creating bone and muscle mass, digestion, hormonal balance such as insulin production and use, fluid balance, acid-base regulation, transportation of substances through the bloodstream, antibody production, as a source of energy and other roles.
All in all, it is much healthier to consume a diet that is moderately high in protein than to concentrate on high carbohydrates and sugar (and fat) intake, as many people do first thing in the morning, as well as throughout the day.
A regulated intake of protein is adequate and healthy, and therefore should not encourage the formation any of diseases associated with inadequate or over-consumption of protein.
