The Building Blocks of Life - ig2go

The Building Blocks of Life

by Linda Baldwin
.
June 16, 2016

Are you getting enough protein?  As a vegetarian I get asked that question almost every day.  It seems as if protein is this magical food that when you eat it your life is just better, maybe that is why our society seems to be adding protein to every single meal.  However according to the DRI established by the USDA only 10-35% of our calories should come from protein.  Protein is the basic building block for growth, when you consume protein it goes through a digestion process where it is broken down into amino acids.  These amino acids are then reassembled into muscle, nerves, hormones, enzymes, and neurochemicals.  Proteins can also be converted into glucose to use for energy, but it is not as efficient as carbohydrates and fats.

So are you getting enough protein?  It is recommend we eat at least 1-2 gm per Kilogram of body weight (Kilogram = pounds divided by 2.2). For example, a 150 lb person weighs 68 kg. This means they should consume at least 68-136 gm of protein per day.  It is important that you do eat enough protein in your diet because protein is involved in:

  • Growth (especially important for children, teens, and pregnant women)
  • Tissue repair
  • Immune function
  • Making essential hormones and enzymes
  • Energy source
  • Preserving lean muscle mass

Where do you get protein?  Protein comes from meats, poultry, fish, meat substitutes, cheese, milk, nuts, legumes, and can be found in smaller amounts in starchy foods and vegetables. Protein that comes from an animal source however contains all the essential amino acids (essential amino acids are ones that we need to get from our diet), while most plant protein sources needed to be combined properly to get all the essential amino acids.

Overall, protein is a very important part of our diet, but it is not the only part (or even the largest part).  A healthy balanced diet is a combination of carbohydrates, fats, and protein.

Share this Article

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Category
Tags
acai bowls acne diet adrenal fatigue adrenal glands aging alkaline diets all natural anti-inflammatory antioxidants aphrodesiac foods aphrodisiacs apple recipes apples arthritis artificial sweeteners aspartame Atkins Autism auto immune Balanced Diet be grateful beauty best foods for skin big food corporations BMI bone broth bpa in plastic brain chemistry brain foods brain foods bread breville juicer Broccoli broth brushing skin brussels sprouts brussels sprouts recipes burdock root cacao health benefits Calcium Camel Milk cancer cure Cancer Fighters cauliflower Cauliflower Colcannon causing cancer chemicals in our food Chia Recipes choclate cake Christmas chronic fatigue Clean Eating coconut oil coconut water Cold Remedies cold season cold-fighting superfoods collagen, conscious eating cookie monster Cruciferous Vegetables dairy-free dandelion greens december Delicious Delivery Dessert Detoxing dewey complextion dewier complexions, Diabetes Diet and Exercise diet myths Diets draining lymph Drinks easy fall salads easy healthy food easy juice cleanse eat clean eating local Ethnic Foods Excercise exfoliating fall recipes fall salad recipes Fall superfoods families Fast Food fat free fat sick and nearly dead Fathers Day Menu Fatigue feel good foods fig recipes Fighting colds Fish fitness myths Flexitarianism Florida Florida Superfoods flu flu fighting foods food Food Energetics Food Gift Ideas food matters food myths food pyramid food sources of iron food storage food to reduce stress foods for adrenal fatigue Foods for Anxiety foods for colds Foods for Depression foods for flu foods that help your brain foods to boost sex drive fourth of july recipes Fresh Herbs Fruit Popsicles Fruit Smoothies fruits and vegetables Fun Glucosemine Gluten Free gluten free brownie gluten-free recipes glycemic index GMO goji berries good fats good for you good mood foods gourmet Great Food that's Great for you green bean casserole recipe Green Juice Green Tea growing heirloom tomatoes from seed growing quinoa halloween party treats healing Healing with Food healing yourself with juice Health health benefits of blueberries health benefits of broccoli health benefits of coconut water health benefits of eggs health benefits of figs health benefits of mushrooms health benefits of pumpkin health benefits of pumpkin pie health benefits of summer squash health benefits of sweet potatoes health food health food myths Health Food Studies health stories in the news healthy healthy appetizer recipes healthy appetizers healthy cookies healthy desserts healthy drinks recipes healthy during the holidays healthy eating healthy fall recipes healthy food healthy fourth of july recipes healthy green bean casserole healthy halloween treats healthy holiday baking healthy holiday cookies Healthy Holiday Desserts Healthy Holiday Party Recipes healthy ingredients Healthy Irish Food Healthy Irish Recipes healthy kids food healthy oils healthy party recipes Healthy Popsicles Healthy St. Patrick's Day healthy thanksgiving recipes healthy thanksgiving side dishes Heart heart disease heart health heart healthy eating heart-healthy foods Herbal Tea herbs high energy high fiber foods holiday baking holiday cookies holiday dinner Holiday Recipes Holiday Superfoods holidays holistic health Hormones how to correct insulin resistance how to prevent insulin resistance hype vs healthy foods Ice Cream immune system immune system boosters immunity inflammation insulin resistance insulin resistance and exercise intelligent gourmet Intuitive Eating Iodine joint pain juice juice cleanse Juice Detox juice fast juice pulp Juice Recipes juice shop juices juicing juicing for health juicing in tampa juicing or blending Kids lemon peels life by daily burn lingonberries losing weight low fat low fat thanksgiving recipes low glycemic foods Low in sodium low-carb recipes low-fat gravy recipe low-fat lunch low-fat recipes low-glycemic diet mama nature meatballs medicinal juicing memory Mental Wellbeing Move Inspired Health & Fitness natural aversion natural flavors natural healing natural medicine Natural Remedies naturally made new year new you new year's resolution New Year's Resolutions New Years niman ranch Non Fat Diet non-fat november Nutrition nutritional coaching Nuts oils omega 3 omega 3 skin organic organic produce ph balance plastic microwave pms popcorn recipes practice preservatives preventing acne with omega 3 Probiotics promotes relaxations pumpkin pumpkin butter pumpkin butter recipe pumpkin healthy pumpkin recipes quinoa raw food raw vegan lasagna recipe raw vegan recipes recipes resolutions restful sleep rituals roasted salad safe to heat plastic in microwave salads sandwiches sea beans seasonal seasonal recipes seasonal vegetables selenium selfcare skin foods skincare diet Smoothie Recipies Smoothies sodium nitrites in food sometimes food Soup soup recipes spices spoiling food and cosmetics spring cleanses spring florida spring fruits Spring Superfoods spring vegetables stevia stress busting foods stress eating stress food Stress-Busting Superfoods substances in your food sugar bomb Sugar Free Diet summer Summer Party Foods summer superfoods super-foods superfood pairings superfoods Superfoods for Dad Sushi Tampa tampeaeats Tea Tea Health Benefits thanksgiving thanksgiving dinner thanksgiving recipes thanksgiving turkey recipe things to practice daily thyroid foods trustworthy sources turkey brine recipe turmeric turmeric root Valentine's Day vanilla health properties vegan Vegan Diet Vegan Food Tampa Bay vegan soup recipes vegan tampa vegetarian Vegetarian Side Dishes vitamin d vitamins walnuts water watermelon watermelon health properties Weight weight loss weight loss superfoods wellness whole food Whole Foods why eat seasonal why organic is healthier will-power winter soups workout Yogurt zucchini noodles
Archives
ig2go