Protein in Meals |
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The Protein in Meals
All meals contain some protein, and the quantity of protein is generally higher in animal foods in comparison to plant foods. Animal foods also contain protein of much higher quality, which allows more protein from the meal to be used for growth and maintenance. The quality of the protein in each meal can be important for consistent weight loss because it limits the amount of protein used for fuel, and helps maintain lean weight which helps keep the metabolism high. A reduction in the metabolism is inevitable when people lose weight quickly. Lets look at the uses for protein in meals:
Detailed explanation for the three uses of protein content in meals: The protein in each meal can be used for growth and maintenance of lean tissue, but usually if all essential amino acids are present within the amino acid pool of the blood. This was once believed to be influenced by the quality of protein in EACH meal, and necessary for intakes to be at the same time. Although this is no longer correct, it should be known that high quality protein sources will generally be better for the body to use in protein synthesis. This means effective maintenance of lean body weight to help keep the metabolism sufficiently high enough to burn fat calories. Protein from each meal, can also be used to provide energy for cells. In fact, the body always uses a small percentage of protein for energy. Its use however, rises depending on the physiological and nutritional state of the body at that given time. Some examples are:
The protein in meals can be converted to glucose (sugar) and stored if more calories are consumed than the body requires. A certain amount of protein will be used for growth and maintenance as there should be some essential amino acids present, simply due to the volume of food eaten. However, as there would likely be sufficient consumption of carbohydrates, the body has no choice but to convert the remaining protein into glucose and used for fuel. The problem here is that the more protein is used for fuel, the less body fat will be burned! How the protein in a meal is dealt with depends mainly on the present state of an individual's body. So, if you are trying to gain muscle or lose body fat, the quality of protein in meals will be an important factor to consider. Combine protein in meals from plant foods to increase quality and provide all essential amino acids.
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