A person’s body is like a well-oiled machine, it needs proper care and treatment in order to keep working properly. A main ingredient for the body is carbohydrates, but more importantly protein. Protein plays a vital role in maintaining the bodies functionality and healthy state. Energy is provided to the body through the consumption of food, most people think the main energy source comes from the carbohydrates they digest. Although, the main energy source comes from the protein in the food or shakes that enters the body. There are many food options to choose from that contain a good amount of protein that are easily accessible in grocery stores. Although, an excess amount protein does damage to the body in more visible ways instead of to the naked eye. The positives of protein consumption out weight the negatives in ways such that the absence of or lack of protein does a number on a person’s body physically; in a more internal state than external, because it will eventually begin to denature over time and in more severe cases lead to death. The amount of dietary protein consumption is crucial for maintaining proper health for the person and the body. 

Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are essential building blocks that help keep the body in line. There are twenty total amino acids and nine out of the twenty are very valuable, meaning they can’t be replaced. These “indispensable amino acids must come from the diet and/or the endogenous (internal/within) protein breakdown” (Tarnopolsky). It’s important for these amino acids to remain in a stable environment for proper functioning. The circadian demand for protein intake is created by the amino acids that are nonrepairable and or misplaced on a day to day basis. When these amino acids are not getting replaced or replenished, the body is deprived of essential nutrients. When the body is in deprivation it goes to look for another solution in order to replace the needed nutrients. Tarnopolsky states that “in addition to dietary protein intake, protein degradation is the only other source of amino acid contribution to the intracellular free amino acid pool.” The muscles are the main target for this problem because the muscles are composed of amino acids. The only way to replace these amino acids is to consume dietary products with adequate amounts of protein in them. By taking part in this action, the body is able to remain in a strong, healthy, stable environment.

It’s not hard to locate foods that contain good sources of protein and the cost isn’t pricy. According to the video of 22 High Protein Foods, Greek yogurt contains 10g, mozzarella contains 28g, wheat meat contains 75g/100g, eggs contain 13g, pumpkin seeds contain 19g/100, and edamame are all good choices to snack on if one is looking for protein rich foods. If someone is allergic to any of these food products, that’s okay because there are plenty of options out there for those people to choose from, they just have to figure out what works best for them without causing harm to their bodies. It is highly recommended by Dr. Axe to go with organic source protein products and grass fed products because those products are all from natural materials. Natural products are better for the body because they don’t contain any added in hormones or other products that could have a potential negative effect on the person’s body. Proteins aid in boosting a person’s metabolism and have a high fat burning potential, they are “the fuel that motivates and really supports in building healthy tissues and cells” (How Much Protein). Having a high metabolism, which is a chemical process needed to obtain life, is used to burn off the extra adipose tissue and allows the person to lose weight and have a more confident feeling about themselves. 

Proteins are useful in maintaining a healthy body because they aid in fighting infections in order to keep a strong immune system. Proteins work with the white blood cells and the antibodies with in the immune system. This is important because the immune system helps protect the body against unknown pathogens and keeps the body clear from any infections and or diseases. Having a weak immune system makes a person more prone to getting sick and a good way to strengthen the immune system would be by consuming dietary products with protein. Antinoro mentions that “if you don’t eat adequate protein, your body has to break down its own tissues to make some of this necessary nutrient”; preventing this from happening allows for the person to have a stronger immune system than they did before; preventing them from sicknesses.  No one wants to be sick and eating right isn’t a hard task to do. Taking more medication to help prevent sicknesses is one option, but increasing the consumption of protein products allows for the body to get a more natural “medicine”. The body is able to build up immunity to any medication if it is constantly being consumed to prevent infections and or sicknesses, but getting immunity to protein is highly unheard of.

 Limiting diseases and infections with in the body will decrease the chance of inflammation occurring inside the body. Swelling can be detected with the C-Reactive Protein Test, which allows doctors to predict a person’s chance of having a heart attack. Lee suggests, “Some cardiology experts are increasingly hopeful that the CRP will improve our ability to figure out who has the highest risk of heart diseases” (Lee). People who have cholesterol and blood sugar problems are able to have better control over those body levels if they watch/monitor what they are consuming. A way for this to happen is maintaining a good low carb, high protein diet leading to a healthier eating habit. Having a healthy protein diet added into the daily cycle not only helps with the immune system and controlled body levels, but supplies the body with more energy. More energy throughout the day lets people be more relaxed and have a happier day. Being energized allows people to come home from a long day at work and still enjoy quality family time. 

Protein plays a major role in strength and endurance athletes. Athletes have to pay close attention to what they are consuming daily to fuel their bodies. They need consume food items that will play in their favor with the exercise and sport they take part in. Carbohydrates and protein provide the body energy and according to Steve Born “If the endurance athlete does not provide this protein as part of the fuel mixture, more lean muscle tissue will be sacrificed through gluconeogenesis (formation of glucose that originates from a non-carbohydrate origin) to provide fuel and preserve biochemical balance”. Muscles provide strength to the body and if the body breaks the muscles down then the athlete will become weak. Tarnopolsky directly states his meaning for excess protein for athletes: “Because proteins serve a structural or functional role within the cell, basic physiologic principles would predict that the repeated stress of endurance exercise should result in an adaptive downregulation of amino acid oxidation during endurance exercise.” When an athletes body becomes weak, they are not able to perform to their best ability. In order to maintain good care for their bodies, it is said that there is no harm in consuming more than the recommended amount of protein for endurance and strength athletes. Athletes bodies require extra amounts of carbohydrates and protein to keep functioning the way the need it to. In fact, “protein needed to repair any ultrastructural damage in muscle tissue occurring as a result of some eccentric component to the activity and my lead to an increased requirement for dietary protein in athletes wishing to increase their lean body mass” according to Phillips. Since an athlete’s body needs to be in a confident energy stability level to preform, a higher intake of protein is needed. According to Stuart Phillips, “the buildup of muscles happens when proteins are induced/consumed but are excited for a larger degree when struggle is presence in an action is performed,” meaning the muscles are gaining mass when the athletes puts forth work that allow the muscles to grow or to be enlarged. Athletes can eat what they want since they burn so many calories in a day, but when an athletes meal contains protein it allows for the body to grown in strength and have a more lean/fit look. Typically, most athletes try to look their best and the easiest way for that to happen is to consume the proper foods and nutrients to replenish their bodies with what has been lost. 

Muscles make up primarily most of the body. Their roles are to provide protection to the bones and the bone provides protection to the bodies internal organs. When there is a protein deficiency, the body begins to tear down its muscles in search for amino acids. When the muscles are wasting away, bones and organs don’t get as much protection because the muscles are decreasing in their mass. By having the muscle mass reduced slowly over time not only does the structural support become in danger but the risk of health issues begins to arise. The body becomes weak and deprived and when this process occurs the individual can feel more tired and have complication making it through the day or completing and exercise. According to Steve Born, “If the endurance athlete does not provide this protein as part of the fuel mixture, more lean muscle tissue will be sacrificed through gluconeogenesis (a metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from specific non-carbohydrate carbon substrates) to provide fuel and preserve biochemical balance”. From an athlete’s perspective, having muscles is crucial to having good performances, along with maintaining strength to be able to finish the exercise. As muscles begin to waste away, the body has a malnourished look and losing a lot of weight over a period of time can do a number on the body as well. It’s very bad to drop a good amount of weight in a short amount of time, it makes the body levels and systems get out of their daily routine. 

While there are many positive effects of consuming proper daily amounts of protein, the absence or lack of proteins has a major effect on the body. As stated many times above, the absence of protein leads the body no choice but to break down its own tissue and muscles in order to supply the body with what it needs. Some possible symptoms of protein deficiency include but are not limited to the constant feeling of being weak or hungry because protein consumption provides the body the ability to gain strength. When the muscles don’t appear as they should, they have a MIA look to them, it’s a sign of the body breaking down to provide for itself. Difficulty losing weight can be because the body’s metabolism is slowing down due to a protein deficiency. Hair loss is another symptom of protein deficiency because hair is primarily made up of proteins. Constantly catching colds and staying sick is due to a weak immune system caused by improper fueling. Visible inflammation is another sign of not enough protein because “proteins help hold salt and water in blood vessels; without enough protein, these fluids can seep into surrounding tissues” (Varellas). Lastly, patchy skin can be caused by flaky dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) which is a result of protein deficiency. These are just some of the many signs and symptoms of low protein intake, yet they are still noticeable signs to the naked eye which will warn the person to start consuming more protein before the symptoms get worse.

Kwashiorkor is a more severe symptom of protein deficiency when no action is taken place. Kwashiorkor is a common type of malnutrition that causes diarrhea, a decrease in muscle gains, tiredness, infections/illnesses and inflammation. On top of those symptoms, “Kwashiorkor can cause permanent mental and physical disabilities, and lead to coma and early death” (The Risks Associated). If this is detected early on, it can be corrected by consuming more proteins and having a higher calorie intake. Protein is easy to consume, it is not worth risking one`s own life with near death symptoms when all that needs to change is an increase in protein consumption. Near-death symptoms like heart attacks can be caused by unbalanced body levels and proteins help in stabilizing the body levels. A person can have more control over their body levels by monitoring what they put into their body. Cholesterol and blood sugar levels need to be monitored or else they can lead to a negative result. 

Protein can do wonders for the human body. It can help a person out in a lot of ways while maintaining healthy eating options for the person to choose from that are available in grocery stores. Although, it does have down sides if there is a deficiency, protein is still a very important nutrient to consume on a day to day basis. In order for the body to remain in a homeostasis (the ability to remain stable) state, the essential amino acids need to be consumed, or as mentioned above, the body will slowly begin to shut down. When the body shuts down, the person isn’t able to perform like normal; they become weak. Energy is what keeps the body moving, we receive energy from protein, protein is provided through consumption of foods that contain amino acids. Everything starts with proper nutrition, without proper care and nutrition, all of the body’s systems will not be stable enough to perform their own individual tasks. 

One could argue that the excess presence of protein can have a more harmful effect than the absence of it. When there is so much protein consumption, it can lead to weigh gain, kidney stress, extra body fat, dehydration and can also drain away essential bone minerals. The excess protein will turn most of the calories into fats and sugars, the increase in fat is a leading factor of weight gain along with causing the sugar levels to rise. Dr.Mercola mentions that the these factors can fuel the pathogenic bacteria and yeast which aid in cancer cell growth. When a person consumes to much protein, it can activate an effect on the mTOR and if the consumption is decreased and or limited, it can help reduce a person’s chance of getting cancer. Weak kidneys can be the after effect of severe dehydration. The body will not only shut down when there isn’t enough protein but will also begin to break down when the body is lacking water. Water is extremely essential, makes up approximately 60% of the body including: blood stream, muscles, tissues, etc... so when there is not enough water being provided all these parts and or systems will begin to denature. It takes more water to teardown protein to help discard the excess waste in the body. Lastly, when there is too much being placed in the body, it can lead to a deficiency in bone minerals. Bone mineral deficiency, also known as osteoporosis (brittle and weak bones/ poor conditions) is targeted towards people of older age. Since their bones won’t be strong, any time a person of older age falls, it can be detrimental to their health; they are more prone to breaking and fracturing bones in their body. In severe cases, a broken or fractured bone can potentially pierce through an organ or cause internal bleeding throughout the body. 
