Friday, March 4, 2011

Protein diet

A protein diet is also known as a high protein diet and it is generally used by athletes and sportspersons. Proteins are a very important nutrient and are essential for the formation and maintenance of muscle tissue. As human beings, we require amino acids for the smooth functioning of our system. Proteins are made up of amino acids and once they are consumed, the gastric acids in our stomach help to break down these proteins and the amino acids that are formed are then utilized by the body. People who have a higher level of physical activity on a regular basis require more protein as compared to those who follow a more sedentary lifestyle.

This type of a diet helps the person to increase and tone their muscle mass without having to worry about excessive weight gain. A protein diet must be adjusted to suit an individual’s requirements as sex, age, activity levels, and other factors will affect a person’s protein requirements.

A high protein diet plan is also commonly used for weight loss. In such cases, the person will need to augment their diet with a regular exercise plan.

If a person follows a high protein diet but does not receive adequate exercise, he/she will start to gain weight. This is because the protein rich foods are converted into amino acids which are then converted into glucose and stored in the body. A rule of thumb for determining protein intake is that a person should follow a protein diet that has approximately 1 gram for every pound of body weight.

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