The word protein was emerged from the Greek word proteins which means primary. It has many roles to play in our body without which normal functioning can be impaired.
Functions of proteins includes
It develops antibodies, which are our primary defense system against germs and diseases.
Aids in muscle contraction, which we get from contractile proteins.
Bu utilizing enzymes it catalyses metabolic and biochemical reactions. Enzymes take part in all chemical reactions in the body.
Picking up signals from the body and transmitting it to a cell that needs it; hormonal proteins that work as a messenger proteins.
The major roles of proteins are developing cells and tissues; structural proteins such as keratin, collagen and actin, etc, building connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments (responsible for maintaining healthy hair, skin, nails).
It helps to carry the nutrients from one part of the body to another; hemoglobin does this.
The primary function of protein is to build and repair your body. In fact amino acids are the building blocks of protein that builds all different parts of our body. In human genome, 20 different types of amino acids produced to make protein, main source of energy. Different amino acids combine together to develop specific proteins that are essential in creating hair, nerves, or the matrix of the bone, hormones, enzymes etc. Proteins are also responsible for generating energy, recovering from illness, maintaining our bodies and their growth, fat loss and even mood and brain function. Amino acids are classified into two major types : indispensible amino acids (IAA) and dispensable amino acids (DAA). Indispensible amino acids are developed by our body through our diet and can’t be made by the body while DAA produced by the body without our diet or food.
It helps to burn fat. To lose fat the body must have the ability to boost the circulation and mobilisation of stored fat. Then these fats need to be converted to energy called as fat burning. To promote circulation of stored fats and to break it down into energy, the body needs lots of nutrients. One of the most substantial nutrients it requires is methionine, an IAA. By eating adequate quantity of well balanced diet and fine quality protein like fish, egg, milk, etc helps to gain Methionine to our body. If you consume a diet without protein will lessen methionine and will not aid fat burning.
Further, it’s absolutely important for people who do physical activity. While performing any form of exercise, our body and particularly our muscles experience microscopic wear and tear. Losing muscle tissue or its breakdown is related with ageing but protein will turn exercise into an anti aging activity through amino acids, which help us repair our tissues and recover from the stress that exercise places on our body.
Post exercises, the body crave for some fast carbs and a quick supply of amino acids. The fast carbohydrates lead to fasten the insulin levels of the body. Without protein working out is fruitless. No wonder people who exercise but don’t consume or include protein diet ultimately deduce that exercise does not work for them.
Fat and carbohydrate can both provide us with energy but cannot do the repair and recovery work that protein does for us. Consuming too much of protein at one time, will not get stacked away for future use; instead it will be converted into fat by a process called denomination.