Protein

Before I could even get the preliminaries out of the way, I was hearing loudly and frantically that my client needed to eat more protein. The Guys are usually softer and quieter in their approach but when they’ve been trying to get your attention, you get ‘punch in the gut’ loud and blunt.  So for this sweet lady, all I could do was stammer, “Protein! You’ve got to eat more protein NOW. You’re body is cannibalizing itself. It’s starving!! You’ve got to get on consuming more protein NOW, NOW, NOW!!!”

That’s not the first time I’ve heard a client needs to eat more protein. I’ve heard it for both men and women of all ages. Again, when there is a reoccurring theme to what I’m hearing, it usually means more people are experiencing the same issue and will benefit from educating themselves about it.

Let’s talk about what protein does for our beautiful bodies. When we eat a protein source, our body breaks it down and then uses it to create new protein that is used to grow, maintain and repair our cells. OUR CELLS…Hello…HUGE!! According to one website http://www.helpwithcooking.com/nutrition-information/protein-guide.html, protein is vital for practically every process that occurs within our body.  Think: metabolism, digestion and the transportation of nutrients and oxygen in the blood.

Protein is also necessary in order to produce antibodies.  Antibodies fight against infection and illness. Protein is also the main nutrient that keeps our hair shiny and healthy, our nails strong, our skin fresh and glowing and our bones strong and healthy. Little old unassuming protein. Who knew??

So what happens if we don’t get enough protein? You mean OTHER than our body literally eating itself to stay alive? Well, if it’s the precursor to antibodies, then it stands to reason we’ll be ill more often. How about being tired and having skin issues (rashes, change in pigment, hair loss, etc.)? Yep. Definitely.  Our hair and nails will become brittle and as was the case for me, my hair broke off in sections. This was when I was nursing our daughter and thought I WAS consuming enough protein. My body said otherwise. I knew better, dang it. I totally knew better!

As a side note, I also know and love a certain “all I will eat is packaged and highly processed food from a box’ young teen whose hair has fallen out in a two inch diameter spot and is not regrowing. I knew long before this blog was even a twinkle in my eye that his body was suffering from a diet that was uber deficient in daily protein.

Of all the information the Ascended Ones/Guardian Angels could tell me, of ALL the information they want you to know, they often start out by saying my client needs more protein. Is it any wonder? Protein is so vital to, well, our life!

A question I’m often asked is, “Well, how much protein do I need?”  I shrug my shoulders and say, “I dunno… I’m just the messenger.” So for this blog, I decided to make it easy for you to see how much protein you need if you are an average person. I hope it goes without saying that if you are athletic (meaning lifting weights, doing yoga, training for a marathon, etc.), over weight/under weight, bodybuilding, pregnant or nursing, you’ll need to look into amping up your protein consumption.

Here’s a protein chart from the CDC: (http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/protein.html).

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s briefly talk about protein sources and how easy it really is to get your daily allowance.

1 cup milk = 8 grams

1 large egg = 6 grams

1 cup yogurt = 8 to 12 grams

1 cup cooked beans (black, pinto, lentil, etc.) = 14 to 20 grams

1 chicken breast (3.5 oz) = 30 grams

1 hamburger pattie (4 oz) = 28 grams

1 cup tofu = 40 grams

1 cup nuts (various) = 32 grams

This is just a snapshot of what’s out there. Pasta, for instance, is often fortified with protein. Some fruits and veggies have trace amounts of protein, too. Don’t forget about the great protein drinks/powders out there, either. I find them to be an easy way to get more protein into my body. If you’d like to check out more protein sources, here’s the website I used: http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/highproteinfood

Can you get too much protein? Why, yes you can, Virginia! Good question! Our body doesn’t have the ability to store protein, so any excess will be converted into glucose or stored as fat. Too much protein consumption can actually lead to osteoprosis. And if you’re eating too much meat protein, you run the risk of gout, high-cholestorol, heart disease and stroke.   Now, what constitutes as too much protein? That you’ll need to figure out for yourself (or consult with a physician, nutritional consultant, etc.).

As I’ve said before, I know just enough about this stuff to be mildly dangerous. I don’t profess to have all the answers. I mean, I’m a Holistic Healer, not a Dietary Aide. I consider this blog as something to, uhhhh, grow on. Literally.