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4 Fantastic Health Benefits of Protein

By Tom Parker
Sep 8, 2009
Protein is a very important macronutrient that your body needs to function properly. It helps your body perform many vital functions and offers multiple health benefits. In this article I will be discussing four of these fantastic health benefits in greater detail.

1) IT ACTS AS YOUR BODY'S BUILDING BLOCKS:- Protein is vital for creating new cells such as blood cells, bones, muscles and organs. It also helps maintain these cells and keep them healthy. Finally, it is essential for repairing these cells when they become damaged. Therefore, protein is essential at all stages of your life. When you are young and your body is still growing this macronutrient supports full and proper growth. When you are fully grown it helps maintain a healthy body and repair any injuries you may suffer.

2) IT HELPS PRODUCE ANTIBODIES, ENZYMES AND HORMONES:- Protein helps your body produce a number of important chemicals which are essential for it to function properly. Antibodies support a strong immune system and help your body fight infection. Enzymes are essential for proper digestion and other chemical reactions in your body. Hormones send messages to the cells in your body. Without protein these chemicals cannot be produced so you need to make sure you are getting adequate levels of this important macronutrient.

3) IT HELPS YOUR CUTS HEAL:- When you bleed your body starts to produce a stringy protein called fibrin. Fibrin covers the cut and helps it clot. Once the cut has clotted your body produces a protein called collagen. Collagen is your body's connective tissue and helps produce new skin and scar tissue to heal the cut. If you do not consume enough protein your body will struggle to produce fibrin and collagen which makes it difficult for your cuts to heal.

4) IT CAN HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT:- Protein is a great weight loss food for a number of reasons. First, your body uses more calories when breaking down protein than carbohydrates. So if you eat a 500 calorie meal of pure protein your body will burn more calories digesting this meal than it would digesting a 500 calorie meal of pure carbohydrates. Secondly, research indicates that protein can lower your appetite. It is not know why it has this effect on your appetite but a number of studies have suggested the amino acid leucine is the main influence.

As you can see protein is not just a building block for your body. It can help you control your appetite, heal your wounds and help your body function. If you are not currently eating protein on a regular basis I highly recommend you make this macronutrient a key feature of your diet.
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