{"id":1066,"date":"2021-08-17T22:07:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-17T22:07:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2023-09-05T00:02:42","modified_gmt":"2023-09-04T16:02:42","slug":"what-protein-does-for-your-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magazine.circledna.com\/what-protein-does-for-your-body\/","title":{"rendered":"What Protein Does For Your Body and Why it\u2019s Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does protein do for your body? Adequate protein is one of the most important elements of any diet, but why? As a critical source of fuel, protein is a \u201cmacronutrient\u201d responsible for building muscle mass. <\/strong>Just like carbohydrates or fibre<\/a>, protein is crucial for making your body work the way it should. Many people, however, don\u2019t understand just how valuable protein can be.<\/p>\n

Your body needs protein to thrive, yet studies suggest that many adults aren\u2019t getting enough protein into their diet, particularly as they start to get older. In America\u2019s Journal of Nutrition, researchers found that 1 in 3 adults over the age of 50<\/a> is missing out on their recommended protein intake.<\/p>\n

So, what is protein, and why is it so important?<\/p>\n

What Does Protein Do For Your Body? The Benefits of Protein<\/h2>\n

There are more than 10,000 kinds of protein found in the human body, powering everything from your organ function to your hair growth and nails. Protein is a critical element of what makes human beings into the creatures we are \u2013 and it\u2019s also essential to the processes that fuel your metabolism.<\/p>\n

Experts recommend that we should get around 10% of our daily calories from protein. If you\u2019re trying to figure out a gram amount for your daily diet<\/a>, take your weight by pounds and multiply it by 0.36.<\/p>\n

This is what protein does for your body:<\/p>\n

1.<\/strong> Ensures healthy growth and maintenance<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Perhaps the most obvious of the protein benefits is that it allows your body to continue growing and thriving. Your body\u2019s proteins are constantly expiring and being renewed.<\/p>\n

Under normal circumstances, your body generally breaks down the same amount of protein each day to build and repair tissues. However, during periods of illness, during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding, you use more protein<\/a>, which means you need more in your diet.<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> Sends crucial communication signals<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Some proteins can also be \u201chormones\u201d \u2013 substances that aid the communications between tissues, cells, and organs in the body. These substances are made by endocrine glands and tissues and move through your body in your blood. Hormones like proteins and peptides are made from chains of amino acids. Examples of the kind of protein-based hormones your body uses every day include:<\/p>\n