Hope ya'll are doing great! :)
Ready to continue about proteins?? If you are just joining me and feel a little lost, the last 2 posts were on the importance of protein and a very easy and quick way to calculate how much protein your body needs.
Now that we all know how much protein you need (and how much I weigh too! SHOCKED/EMBARRASSED SMILEY, lol) we can see what harm may come from wanting way too much of all the awesome benefits that protein has to offer by overdoing it.
When over 30% of your average calorie intake comes from protein (for a 2000 calorie diet, that would be 150 grams of protein) is about the time where your body starts having a hard time to process it. Now don't get mad at me, but I'm going to need a little help from chemistry to explain this one.
This is what a protein chain looks like:
Do you guys see the little N in blue? That means there's nitrogen in its chain. Yes, we do need this, however in the right amount. When you take too much protein, it becomes challenging for your body to get rid of what you don't need and this is when it becomes toxic for you. What this means is that your body will have to work extra hard to maintain the balance it needs to properly function. Think in your situation..what happens when you have to work extra hard at work or school?? You become exhausted, right? This is what happens with important organs that work in eliminating the excess nitrogen, such as your kidneys. Now, I'm not saying that everyone that overdoes it will get kidney stones (and that sounds awfully painful) or other more serious problems...but you must be aware that it can happen.
Plus we should always be aiming to be healthy right? The best medicine is PREVENTION! Which is what nutrition is aaaall about ;)
Another problem with having too much protein is that you are likely not having enough carbohydrates. Although the poor carbs have a bad rep, they are VERY IMPORTANT! They give us energy fast and fiber is a carbohydrate, remember the fiber post and how it is good for us??
Should we become paranoid and start counting exactly how much protein is in each food item we eat?
Not quite either....if you are eating balanced meals (like I explained in the my plate post)...you most likely are doing it right! This however should be carefully considered when deciding to take protein supplements and/or trying crazy protein diets...did I mention that they are crazy? lol!
Refresher - How your plate should look like:
Just so it doesn't seem like I'm "scolding" protein shakes, here are just a few questions to reflect upon:
- Has anyone wondered what's in those protein shakes??
- Did you know that many many of them are not FDA approved? Meaning they can add whatever they wish in those products.
- Have you also noticed that sometimes they are mysteriously discontinued?? Now I love a good mystery, but that just sounds too sketchy for comfort. Isn't it easier to just drink milk, eat meat, yogurt?? Those without a doubt must taste better and have a lot of other nutrients! :)
Next post: What snacks should I have before and after a workout?
See you then!!
-The Nutrinut-
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