Why does your body need enough? 7 consequences of too little protein

Why does your body need enough protein? 7 consequences of too little protein

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It doesn't matter if you are a fanatic athlete or not. Your body needs enough protein. On average, the Dutch consume far too many carbohydrates and far too little protein. You need an average of 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight and if you exercise this can even be double. Read more about this in our blog”How much protein do you need per day ".

Nowadays many people are aware that it is important for our body to get enough protein. However, it can happen that you do not get enough protein, even if you watch your intake. In this article we take a closer look at this.

Why does your body need enough protein?

Proteins are the building blocks of our body. Protein is a nutrient, just like carbohydrates and fat. Protein provides calories and amino acids. Amino acids in proteins ensure the strengthening and repair of body cells. In order to live a healthy life, it is important to get enough protein. Your body uses proteins for almost all crucial physiological processes.

Some examples of this are:

  • Growth, maintenance and repair of cells (muscles, skin, skeleton, hair, teeth)
  • Metabolism & cell transport through the bloodstream
  • Production of antibodies (immune system)
  • Organ functions
  • Production of enzymes & hormones

7 consequences of too little protein

junk food

If you don't get enough protein, there is a high chance that you will crave non-nutritional foods, say junk food. This is because our blood sugar levels are out of balance, tempting us to eat carbohydrate-rich and sugar-laden foods such as chocolate, candy, chips, sandwiches, and soda. When this happens, we need to resist this urge and make sure you get a healthy snack with a good amount of protein. For example, choose a protein shake, a handful of nuts, a bowl of Greek yogurt, cracker with chicken breast or a boiled egg.

A blurry feeling

Because your blood sugar level fluctuates, you get a blurry feeling. A stable insulin level ensures a good concentration. In addition, proteins help your body process carbohydrates so that they are processed evenly. This keeps your energy level up.

Muscles

If the body does not get enough protein from food, it will use protein from the muscles to make up for the shortage at the expense of muscle mass. So you can train as much as you want, but if you don't get enough protein, your muscle strength and mass will not increase.

Joint pain or muscle pain

A large part of our proteins is stored around our joints. That is why it is not surprising that when you have a shortage of proteins, this can manifest itself in joint pain or muscle pain.

Inflammatory Diseases

The greater your protein deficiency, the fewer antibodies your body can produce. As a result, there is little left of your immune system and you are more prone to bacterial and viral infections.

Fluid accumulations

Proteins play a role in regulating the fluid balance in the body. If there are not enough proteins in your blood, the pressure in your arteries drops. Fluid build-up (edema) can therefore be the result of ingesting too little protein.

Less concentration

When you have a shortage of protein, you can have concentration problems. Protein is responsible for the health of several neurotransmitters in the brain. What we eat ultimately determines the nerve chemicals that dominate the nerve pathways in the brain, affecting how we feel. If we want to stay healthy, focused and energetic, we have to make sure we get a decent dose of protein. Ensure a balanced diet with sufficient vegetables, fruit and proteins.

Protein shakes

Protein powders can offer a solution. Mix it with water juice or (nut) milk for an easy snack. You can also take protein powders well for breakfast, for example with oatmeal, or process them in baking. Note that many protein shakes contain unhealthy additives and are produced without concern for nature.

Ekopura on the other hand, it offers a healthy and organic alternative. Protein without artificial and unhealthy additives and produced with respect for people, animals and nature. Look at here our assortment.

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