Holistic weight reduction - Part8 - The Biochemistry of Metabolism: Protein

PROTEIN METABOLISM: Proteins are highly complex molecules produced by stringing together large numbers of amino acids. 20 different amino acids are known to be present in human proteins. The body can synthesize most of the aminoacids from smaller molecules such as carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, while certain others cannot be synthesized in the body and are called essential aminoacids, which have to be taken into the body in a preformed state. Hence it is necessary to eat a certain amount of proteins as an integral part of food every day. While the contribution of aminoacids to energy production is very small, their chief role in nutrition depends on the fact that they are mandatory for building up proteins necessary for organ and skeletal tissue and their repair and because they can be converted into glucose essential for brain function, if carbohydrate intake should fall. Therefore it is essential to have a minimum intake of carbohydrate everyday to prevent breakdown of already existing muscle, organ tissue or blood proteins to provide what is known as the ‘obligatory requirement’ of the brain and nervous tissue for glucose. This effect of glucose is known as the ‘protein sparing effect’ of carbohydrate.

About the Author : Abe Kurien MD, is a proponent of holistic medicine. He writes profusely on subjects of Weight reduction. His enlightening articles can be found on the smatix weight reduction section : Health and Nutrition Supersite/a>