proteins account for 20% our body weight.

Is there such a thing as too much protein?

Protein Excess Conditions, found in Bodybuilders (or those trying) other carnivores and Paleo or Atkins aficionados.

Risk

Increased kidney problems due to high urea metabolism

Risk of liver problems as ammonia is transformed to urea, which also makes up for kidney burden. (May present as a gout attack where excess urea is stored in joints far away from organs, so usually toes)

Elevated cholesterol associated with higher fat content in animal proteins

Bone loss = osteoporosis and periodontal disease as a result of acidic blood conditions (amino acids- get it? They are acidic)

Certain bowel flora love protein, too much can upset your bowel flora balance in the intestines which can produce toxins leading to autointoxication (especially if transit time is slow) In North America we consume more protein than in any other nation.

Am I getting enough Protein?

Protein deficiency can occur if the diet is lacking, or if there are digestion problems. The stomach acid denatures (unravels the proteins) proteases (enzymes) then randomly split the peptide bonds between amino acid chains, turning them into polypeptides, and then peptidases enzymes) further digest them to amino acids. Only single amino acids are capable of being transported (absorbed) through the walls of the intestines into the blood stream. They are then transported to the liver through the bloodstream.   There is what is called an amino acid pool in the liver, a small amount of essential amino acids are stored there until needed to build something. To help unravel proteins they must be sufficient stomach acid.  If your digestion is inadequate or you ate too many Rolaids or Tumms with dinner, you would not have sufficient acid to unravel the protein strands so that they could be broken down by enzymes into small enough particles (amino acids) to be absorbed.  Because you don’t have enough protein in your system, you can’t maintain or repair your stomach lining and the protective mucosal layer, as a result acid indigestion increases, so you take more acid inhibitors further weakening your digestive system... see the pattern? Ask yourself why there are so many acid reflux medications on the market? With this pattern, you will never get better and always need the product. 

Protein Deficiency results in impaired repair and growth leading to symptoms such as:

Excess fluid retention (Edema) in hands and feet common side effect in chemotherapy due to low blood albumin levels.

Nausea and dizziness.

Anemic conditions low hemoglobin levels, lack of circulating oxygen= hypoxia.

Lowered immunity - frequent infections and colds (Antibodies are protein)

Muscle wasting

Premature aging (collagen cross linking)

Cataracts (also cross-linking of proteins)

Low hormone levels (i.e. decreased testosterone)

Declined liver enzyme activity  (digestion)

Muscular in coordination (neurotransmitters)

Fatigue and weakness

Upset Acid/alkaline balance

Slow wound healing

Mind, mood memory problems

If you have any of these symptoms examine your diet carefully and check to see you are getting at the very least 0.6 to 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.  If you intake is sufficient, you can look to how efficient your digestion is and if it needs help. 

Other Causes,

An under active stomach, in that the stomach does not produce enough enzymes for the proper digestion of foods resulting in maldigestion, and symptoms of protein deficiency.

There is some competitive competition for absorption, to ensure a balance; you must consume a balance of complete amino acid profiles.   So either animal protein, or a mix of vegetarian protein sources must be consumed every day.  Meat is the only well balanced complete protein, that is it contains all 8 essential amino acids in a ratio that the body can absorb and manufacture common body proteins as needed.

When you consume a strictly vegetarian  diet, the limiting factor is which essential amino acids are lowest.  Like the car factory assembly line, we need all parts to build a car (complete protein).  On the other hand we only have limited storage space (amino acid pool) for the essential amino acids we do have in stock.  Combining different types of vegetarian sources can improve the usability of both foods, otherwise they are burned as fuel.  

Some amino acids have therapeutic actions which nutritionists and healthcare practitioners can use when helping someone with health problems.   However, high amounts of single amino acids should not be used for more than a couple of weeks before time off because it can create an amino acid imbalance in the body.

Structure of Proteins

Proteins are groups of amino acids linked together, and depending on the order of the amino acids, the links of amino acids fold into different shapes. These shapes form structures and depending on the level of folding and size they form structures:

Structure can be linear, 2º 3º 4º has to do with shape and function, and that depends on what they are used for.

Types of Proteins:

Fibrous proteins: which are inedible and insoluble in water are used for structure

            Collagen (sound familiar gives our skin that fullness and smoothness)

            Actin (in muscle)

            Keratin (skin/hair)

And globular proteins: which are soluble in water, and for non-structural purposes.

            Growth and maintenance (Muscle, and repair)

            Enzymes - metabolic processes like digestion, up to 100,000 per cell.

            Myosin - movement (with Actin in muscle)

            LDL, hemoglobin, hormones (insulin)- Transport lipids/oxygen

            Antibodies and fibrinogen -blood protein for immunity and clotting

            Storage of nutrients- casein in milk, and ovalbumin in eggs

            Brain Function- brain chemicals, neurotransmitters

            Fluid salt balance (albumin in blood maintains osmotic pressure)

            Acid- alkaline balance - buffering agents

Proteins are comprised of linked smaller molecules called polypeptides, which are made up of tiny individual molecules called amino acids. There are 22 in total with 9 being essential. Essential in that we cannot manufacture them, we must intake them through our diet in order to have all the building blocks to maintain our body and organ systems.  The same amino acids we use to grow and repair muscle are the same amino acids used to make digestive enzymes and repair intestinal linings and cells damaged by toxins and free radicals.  We can form more than 50,000 unique proteins and 20,000 different enzymes.  The body will synthesize protein only until it runs out of one of the essential amino acids, the remaining amino acids will be burned as energy or stored as fat.

No one plant source contains all the essential amino acids in an ideal ratio, so more than one kind of vegetarian protein must be consumed to ensure the proper ratio of amino acids.  The liver keeps an amino acid pool of essential and non-essential amino acids like a car factory; if one part is missing the whole line gets shut down. So while it is not necessary to consume all 9 amino acids in the same meal, the daily total should have some of every amino acid to prevent deficiencies.

Plant sources:                                                 Complement

Corn                                                                 Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)

Grain Cereals                                                  Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)

Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)                   Grains

Rice                                                                  Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)

Soybeans                                                         Nuts, seeds

Vegetables                                                      Legumes (beans, peas, lentils)

Protein synthesis is a result of our DNA... we all have a code in us, and each protein has a specific sequence of amino acids programmed in this code.  Every Enzyme, every antibody, every structural part is determined by our DNA.

Protein foods

Limit (fat to protein ration too high)

(Too calorie dense for what you get)

Beef

            Porterhouse

            Short Ribs

            Ground Beef

            T-bone

Poultry

            Chicken Drum or thigh with skin

             Wings

            Duck

            Goose with skin

Dairy Full fat sources

            Brie

            Cheddar

            Cream Cheese

            Mozzarella

            Ricotta

            Swiss

            Cream Whipping/ half and half

            Sour Cream (full fat)

            Ice Cream

            Milk Homo

Pork

            Bacon

            Loin chop

            Spare ribs

            Ham

            Sausages

Lunch Meats

            Salami

            Bologna

            Hot dog

            Pâté

Other foods

            Pizza

            Take-out Sandwiches

            Fish sticks/chicken fingers

Avoid as much prepackaged foods as you can