Protein is a crucial component of good health. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids, and upon the consumption of protein from your diet, it is broken down into amino acids from digestion. In order to maintain optimal health, it is important to ensure you are receiving enough. 

Amino acids can be classified as either essential or non essential. Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body, and must be obtained through the diet. Nonessential amino acids are made by the body from essential amino acids and the normal breakdown of proteins. 

The essential amino acids are found in animal sources such as meats, milk, fish, and eggs. They are also found in plant sources such as soy, beans, legumes, nut butters, and some grains. However the plant sources don’t contain all essential amino acids, but with a balance and  combination of different sources, you will be able to reach all the protein you need in your diet. It is less important to focus on consuming all amino acids at each meal, rather the importance is your overall day. 

Growth and Maintenance

Under normal circumstances, your body breaks down the same amount of protein that it uses to build and repair tissues. Other times, it breaks down more protein than it can create, thus increasing the amount you need. This is very much dependent upon your personal health and activity level. Periods of illness, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and those recovering from an injury or surgery, older adults, and athletes will require more protein. 

Biochemical Reactions

The body maintains metabolic balance through an interplay of chemical cause and effect that relies on a continuous supply of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats). Protein contributed in  numerous important ways to supporting healthy metabolism.

Enzymes are proteins that aid the thousands of biochemical reactions. The structure of enzymes allows them to combine with other molecules inside the cell which catalyze reactions that are essential to metabolism. Enzymes may also function outside the cell, such as digestive enzymes like lactase and sucrase, which help digest sugar.

Bodily functions that depend on enzymes include

• Digestion
• Energy production
• Blood clotting
• Muscle contraction

Muscle Development

When you exercise and lift weights, you create tiny micro tears in your muscles.  Those amino acids broken down from protein repair the tears to make them bigger and stronger. Therefore, it is important to note, simply eating more protein doesn’t necessarily mean direct gain of muscle mass. You also need to exercise and weight train, as well as eat a nutritious and balanced diet with fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates.

Appetite Control

Protein has been shown to help curb appetites even in a calorie-reduced diet. Among this, it has been shown to improve long-term weight management by promoting energy burning through and beyond periods of weight loss. Consuming  protein levels in the upper end of 0.8 to 1.2 grams per kilogram body weight also lowers blood pressure and promotes increased fat-free body mass, while consuming too little protein for your metabolic needs promotes weight gain. 

It is also important to consider, these are not solely the benefits of protein. There are numerous others to consider, such as the role they play in our hormones and bone health.

What is blood sugar? 

Blood sugar can also be called blood glucose. Sugar and glucose can be interchangeable in this situation because glucose is the main sugar that carbohydrates and protein from our diet are broken down into. There are a few exceptions, however, we will not detail them for simplicity. 

The measurement of blood sugar is the measurement of glucose in the bloodstream that the blood is transporting at any given moment. Blood glucose levels change throughout the day. After eating the levels rise, and they settle after about an hour. They are at their lowest point before the first meal of the day, due to the “fasted” period you went through while sleeping. 

The human body regulates blood glucose levels so that they remain moderately constant and stable. This occurs through complex processes involving the small intestine, liver, pancreas, and even fat tissues. This is important to support vital bodily functions. 

Much of this is done through the act of two key hormones: insulin and glucagon. After a meal, glucose enters the bloodstream from the breakdown of the diet as we mentioned above. The endocrine recognizes this signal and releases insulin to take up the glucose enough to fuel the cells. However, it is careful to not overload the bloodstream with too much and sends excess to the liver and muscles to be stored as glycogen. When the body needs more sugar in the blood, glucagon signals the liver to turn glycogen storage (stored glucose) back into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. 

What is the importance?

Maintaining normal blood sugar levels is a very important part of avoiding long-term health issues, managing weight and just overall feeling good and energetic. Unhealthy blood sugar levels are actually becoming an epidemic proportion with the overeating habits of many. 

The persistently high blood sugar level is a condition known as “hyperglycemia.” This acts when the insulin is not properly taking up the glucose for cells. If not properly controlled, it will inevitably lead to a plethora of health issues. This is the case in diabetes for example. At first it can leave you feeling hungry because your cells are not receiving the glucose they need to function properly. And I am sure you can guess what happens next…. We eat more. But if insulin isn’t working properly these calories continue to not go anywhere to be utilized for energy, rather they wreak havoc on our bodies in many ways:

• The excess is stored as fat. 
• Excessive thirst due to the kidney trying to flush the excess sugar out of your blood. The resulting dehydration can adversely affect your concentration, blood pressure and kidneys. 
• The biggest and most important symptom is a severe lack of energy. The mitochondria (or the powerhouses of our cells as you may remember from high school biology) will not be producing the body’s energy currency of ATP as it should be. 
• Through a series of reactions, oxidative stress in the body will become a major contributor  to the risk of developing a raft of serious cardiovascular conditions, neurological disorders and potentially life-threatening metabolic problems.

Good for you, because it is usually possible to normalize blood sugar levels before it is too late. Simple acts of modifying your diet, increasing activity levels, and possible supplementation such as Terry Naturally Blood Balance can go a long way. Ensure you are additioning greens such as kale and spinach into your diet along with whole grain fiber foods, berries, a little bit of healthy fats, and good portions of proteins.