Protein (Amino Acids)

All proteins are made up of individual units called “amino acids.” Amino acids are strung together like the letters of the alphabet to form proteins. Proteins come in many different shapes and sizes, it is the arrangement the amino acids that makes each type of protein unique. Some proteins are made of only a few amino acids and some are made of hundreds. Protein is the major source of building material for muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails and internal organs like the heart and brain. It is also necessary for the formation of hormones like insulin and glucagon. Inadequate protein decreases your body’s ability to maintain and repair organs, to perform physical work, to manufacture hormones, enzymes, and immune system components.

TOO MUCH PROTEIN AT ONCE ISN’T GOOD
The body can deposit an unlimited supply of glucose and fat, however there is no immediate storage area for protein. The protein the body doesn’t need must be burned right away. Excess protein will be metabolized and then converted to sugar or fat. A person should not take in excess protein unless it is needed for a high activity, or to support emotional or physical stress. The average person should not exceed 30 grams of protein per meal.

PROTEIN TURNOVER RATES
Protein turnover is the constant degradation and synthesis of the protein within the body. The ability to turnover protein gives a cell metabolic flexibility when adapting to environmental influences such as food and lifestyle habits. Protein turnover varies widely depending on the type of protein and the location. Liver proteins turnover every 5-6 days, muscle cell proteins about 30 days and proteins in the blood can last anywhere from 1 hour to 7 days.

Muscle breakdown from a poor diet can happen as rapidly as it does during times of starvation, high fever or extreme stress. During these times, protein synthesis slows to a rate of about 40% below normal.
Muscle building processes from weight training and proper diet can be as high as during child growth where there is a net deposition of protein into the muscles.