Protein the Element of Life - The best about Protein is here.

1. Your first step to health & beauty…is the element of life :
Protein
Did you know that to lose weight, instead of cutting back on
protein, you should actually increase your protein
intake! And the reason for this is that protein builds muscle,
which is exactly what you need for that lean toned look.
More muscles will increase your metabolism that will help
you lose weight.
The Importance of Protein in your Diet
Protein is especially important if you work out, because it is essential in repairing your muscles. Too
little protein will cause your body to break down the protein in your muscles, which will cause you to see
very little results from hours of training in the gym. A lack of protein will also result in a lack of important
nutrients, such as iron, and zinc. Vegetarian athletes who fail to supplement protein often suffer from
ongoing colds and struggle to recover from workouts, because their bodies are not supplied with all the
nutrients it needs to function properly.
Cutting back on fatty foods if you plan to lose weight is perfectly fine, as long as you supplement it with
a protein supplement that will supply your body with enough protein to help it cope.
The Importance of Protein for Beautiful Skin & Hair
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see soft, supple, radiant,
glowing, blemish-free skin? Or do you see age spots and new wrinkles?
The skin is the first "aging" sign we tend to see in ourselves. We all want to find
ways to keep our skin beautiful, soft, and, we hope, wrinkle free. We will each get
some wrinkles, but nobody wants them prematurely!
Elastic skin is a sign that a person has ample collagen, the strong
cement-like material that binds together the cells of your body. Collagen
is a structural tissue and it is replaced very slowly. It is made of fibrous
protein. In fact, collagen comprises 30 percent of the total body protein.
Its strong white fibers, stronger than steel wire of the same size, and
yellow elastic networks, called elastin, form the connective tissue that
holds our body together. Collagen strengthens the skin, blood vessels, bones, and teeth.
It is the intracellular cement that holds together the cells in various organs and tissues.
Collagen is one of the most valuable proteins in the human body. A person who has been
sick, or who has been on an extremely low-protein diet, very often sees the muscles in his
or her arms and legs begin to sag, which is a sign that they have probably lost collagen.

2. Your body is made of protein, which is essential for almost every cell in your body, especially your
hair, skin and nails.
Recognizing Deficiencies Related to Your Hair, Skin and Nails
Let's Start with Protein
The building blocks of protein are amino acids. When protein is eaten, your digestive
processes break it down into amino acids, which pass into the blood and are carried
throughout the body. Your cells can then select the amino acids they need for the
construction of new body tissue, antibodies, hormones, enzymes, and blood cells.
There are 22 different amino acids, each of which has its own characteristics, and are
like the letters of the alphabet. The nine essential amino acids are like the vowels. Just
as you cannot make words without vowels, so you cannot build proteins without these
essential amino acids. Protein is not one substance, but literally tens of thousands of
different substances. The essential amino acids must be consumed in the diet because
the body does not make them.
In various combinations, all of these amino acids are capable of forming an almost
limitless variety of proteins, each serving its own purpose.
Proteins are necessary for tissue repair and for the construction of new tissue. Every
cell needs protein to maintain its life. Protein is also the primary substance used to "replace" worn-out or
dead cells:
• Most white blood cells are replaced every ten days.
• The cells in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and blood platelets are replaced every four days.
• Skin cells are replaced every 24 days.
• More than 98 percent of the molecules in the body are completely replaced each year!
Your muscles, hair, nails, skin, and eyes are made of protein. So are the cells that make up the liver,
kidneys, heart, lungs, nerves, brain, and your sex glands. The body's most active protein users are the
hormones secreted from the various glands -- thyroxin from the thyroid, insulin from the pancreas, and a
variety of hormones from the pituitary -- as well as the soft tissues, hard-working major organs and mus

3. cles. They all require the richest stores of protein.
How Much Protein a Day?
Most people consume a very low protein diet, and as a result they feel
tired often. When they increase their protein intake, usually with protein
supplements or protein rich foods, they actually begin to feel much better
and healthier.
The following protein requirement chart is to be used only as a guideline
for determining your protein requirement. You may need more, or you
might be able to get by with slightly less. Your requirement depends on
your percent of body fat, your weight and the physical activity you do. The
higher your activity level, the more you will need to increase your dietary protein intake to repair and
rebuild muscle.
If you are susceptible to infections, recovering from illness, or have undergone a surgery, or if you are
pregnant, you need more protein. Remember that antibodies, white blood cells, lymph cells, and
everything our body uses to fight infections is made out of protein. It is very important we look to the
high side of these requirements.
Daily Protein Requirements for Men and Women Over 20*
• For this age group, the usual recommendation is of one gram of protein
per kilogram of ideal body weight, for sedentary individuals. However,
adding 20 grams of protein to the above recommendation as a safety
margin will ensure getting enough protein.
• If you are physically active, exercising every day, figure one gram of
protein per kilogram of lean (your ideal) weight.
• Pregnant women should add an additional 20 grams, and nursing
mothers should add 40 grams of protein to the above
recommendation.
Remember that there are excellent protein supplements that are
alternatives to traditional protein foods.
We need to remember also that there needs to be a balance of protein, fats
and carbohydrates in the body. It is important to eat five times a day and
include some form of protein at each meal or feeding.
Protein Rich Foods

4. The complete proteins that contain the nine essential amino acids come from meat,
poultry, fish, eggs, and milk -- all dairy & cheese. They are basically anything that
comes from the animal. Nuts and legumes (peas and beans) contain some but not all
of the essential amino acids; these are known as incomplete proteins.
A variety of complete protein foods include fish, chicken, low-fat dairy, eggs, some red meat, quality
protein powders, and nutritional yeast. Also consume an ample supply of various fresh fruits and
vegetables, legumes which are complex carbohydrates and include the essential fatty acids. A strict fat-
free diet is not healthy.
The Value of Protein
It is important to understand the value of protein in our diet. Proteins are
necessary for tissue repair and for the construction of new tissue. Every cell
needs protein to maintain its life. Protein is also the primary substance used to
"replace" worn out or dead cells. Your muscles, hair, nails, skin, and eyes are
made of protein. Those with thinning hair and too many wrinkles for your age may
lack protein. The basis for neurotransmitters in your brain, and the substances
that form the body's immune response against infection, is made from protein.
The most active protein users of the body are all of the hormones.
Next to water, protein is the most plentiful substance in your body. In fact, if all the water were squeezed
out of you, half of your dry weight would be protein. One third of this protein would be in your muscles, a
fifth in your bones and cartilage, a tenth in your skin, and the rest in your other tissues and body fluids.
Even 95 percent of your hemoglobin is protein! Protein is the best nutrient to eat in order to maintain an
even blood sugar level, because it is metabolized over a long period of time. Protein can be converted
to glucose if need be.A quick and easy and very effective way to get more protein into your diet is to use
a protein supplement.