Protein

Protein, as the Greek translation implies, of primary importance, is vital for the synthesizing the metabolic hormones like insulin, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and Growth Factor I. It is an organic compound made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. What this means is that it is crucial for muscle growth, recovery, strength and absorption of nutrients into the muscle cells.

The ultimate value of a food is its Amino Acid composition. Unlike fat and carbohydrates, protein is considered as the “building blocks of life”, made up from 21 Amino Acids. These Amino Acids are responsible for physiological processes related to body building such as muscle growth, recovery, hypertrophy, fat loss, and strength gain. The 21 Amino Acids are comprised of essential (8), conditionally-essential (7), and nonessential (6).

An adequate diet plan has to be high in protein. Essential and conditionally-essential Amino Acids can not be produced by the body alone without the proper food. This is vital for muscle growth, performance, and recovery.

There are two types of sources of food, Incomplete and Complete. Incomplete does not have all of the 21 Amino Acids and complete does. Here are examples of food sources that are complete; milk, eggs, whey, beef, fish. Some examples of incomplete would be; vegetables, fruits, rice, oats, bread, and some types of nuts. You can combine two incomplete sources to make a complete source.

For weight loss and a muscle toned body a high protein, low carbohydrate and low fat diet plan is recommended.



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