Protein is essential for building cells, regulating enzymes and hormones, maintaining fluid balance, and creating energy. However, too much protein can cause health problems such as liver and kidney damage, osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and kidney stones. The body generally uses carbohydrates and fats for energy, not protein.
Eating protein is essential for human health because protein is one of the key human nutrients, along with fat and carbohydrates. The body uses protein to build cells, regulate the production of enzymes and hormones, maintain fluid balance between cells, and create energy. Eating protein can help keep the body strong and can regulate important metabolic functions. However, eating too much protein can cause health problems.
Protein is made up of the 20 essential amino acids that make up the molecular components of the human body. The tissues of the human body are generally subject to a continuous process of depletion and renewal. The body generally uses protein to build and renew every type of cell, including those that make bones, muscles, organs, and connective tissues.
Eating protein can help the human body make essential enzymes and hormones. Hormones such as insulin, which regulate blood glucose levels, are generally made up of the essential amino acids found in protein. Enzymes are protein molecules that allow biological chemical reactions to occur. Enzymes act as chemical catalysts for reactions that occur within the body during digestion and other metabolic processes. Eating protein helps maintain normal enzyme and hormone levels to prevent metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Protein also helps the human body maintain a proper balance of fluids in and between cells. Protein molecules in the blood called albumins and globulins help create the pressure that generally regulates blood flow in and out of capillary regions, where blood pressure is often lowest.
The human body generally uses carbohydrates and fats for energy, rather than protein. The human body generally uses protein for energy only if dietary sources of fat and carbohydrate are low. When the body uses protein for energy, tissue maintenance and other crucial bodily functions often suffer. That is why a diet high in protein but low in carbohydrates and fat can be dangerous.
The human body can usually store excess carbohydrates and fat for later use, but it cannot store protein. The human body generally breaks down protein into its component parts, the essential amino acids. The human body generally removes nitrogen from any excess amino acids in the blood. This nitrogen can accumulate in the kidneys and liver, damaging these organs and contributing to liver and kidney disease. Eating protein in excessive amounts can also contribute to osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and kidney stones.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN