Aminos and Protein

Yesterday, I wrote about arginine, an amino acid but what does that have to do with proteins. Amino acids make up proteins so they are the building blocks of a protein molecule. Now that we know that, how much protein should we be consuming? There is no clear cut answer on this but read on to find out why.

Is there a limit to how much protein you can absorb? What we know so far, what doesn’t get used up usually sits in your stomach so if you want to maximize protein consumption definitely exercise and choose a good diet so you aren’t overloaded with too much protein. What is too much protein? Totally depends on your lifestyle and health so best to speak with your doctor or nutritionist.

Another protein myth is that protein makes you bulky. I think that depends on your genetics as well as your lifestyle. Are you a competitive bodybuilder or does your exercise program result in you bulking up are two questions that must be answered? If you are the average consumer looking to make healthier food choices with protein, then bulking is probably not going to be an issue.

Finally, the other one that I hear is that excess protein can damage your liver and kidneys. This one is probably true too but again all depends on the state of those organs prior to excess consumption. If you are eating healthy and exercising, you probably know what is best for your body so you can always tweak your balanced diet to help you achieve your goals.

If you are unsure about how much protein you really need, start with a Google search and learn about proteins and diets and speak with your doctor or nutritionist as they would be able to guide you in the right direction.

Stay well!