Myths and facts about Proteins:
Myths And Facts About Proteins : What are proteins exactly? If we were to present an analogy, it’d be that
proteins are those foot soldiers that work day and night to keep the giant machine that is our body, working.
Individually the molecules may have little to contribute but together they are the difference between functional and dysfunctional. Their functionality ranges from being the building blocks of cells, to repairing lost and injured cells and even helping to control blood sugar levels. Our protein intake, the patterns, timings, sources and quantity pretty much decides the kind of physique we end up with. Very important to fitness enthusiasts. Let’s have a look at points to keep in mind regarding protein consumption.
1. Whey or Soy protein is bad for women.
Soy protein is protein obtained from soy beans, soy milk, tofu and tempeh, a rather tasteful protein source from plants. There is some truth to the fact that proteins from soy beans and soy milk are responsible for increased levels of estrogen. Estrogen that brings about changes in the reproductive system, brings about development of secondary sexual characteristics in females. But those who say that whey protein leads to broad shoulders and a mannish, muscular figure in females is a rumor indeed. It is not enough to bring about either of these changes. Also that whey protein leads to increase in fat levels is myth. Whey protein is in fact a low-fat protein source.
2. Overcooking a source of protein denatures it.
Common fear exists that the way we handle our protein will affect its usefulness. Truth is, there is no way to change the level of protein you can get from a protein source by manipulating the cooking procedure. It means that heating your protein shake doesn’t result in loss of its protein content, same way boiling beans and cooking a beef steak for longer cannot degrade its protein content. So go ahead and eat your meats as part of cold soup or piping hot. The only difference that can be brought about is in the fat content depending on the cut of meat and food safety from hygiene level maintained while preparing meat.
3. The body can store proteins for later use.
If our body could store proteins the same way it stores excess sugars and carbohydrates, there would be no need to include a mandatory portion of proteins in our daily diet. It would even be possible to do away with protein shakes, whey, meats, fish, pulses from our diet for entire spans. But unfortunately that isn’t the case. We require a steady source of protein for good muscle health and since proteins take time to digest and be of benefit to us, it is best to include protein as part of our diet every day. And since not all proteins are similar, it is a good idea to tap into different sources of protein rather than resorting to the same kind every time.
4. The body can only bear 30 grams of proteins per meal.
Think of where we would be evolution-wise if the above statement was true. Our muscles wouldn’t be quite as developed and we wouldn’t be as good athletes, dancers, weightlifters, reporters, swimmers, even thinkers. Even though protein requirements depend on age, gender, metabolism rate and activity levels, in general the average male and female daily protein requirement levels are far greater than would be met if the body capacity would be of only 30 grams with each meal. Clearly, this is not true.
5. Men require more protein than women.
So far we’ve dealt with ideas that were myths. This bearing no resemblance in that sense to the rest is a fact. A fact based on reasoning, logic. The male body is in general heavier, larger, having countable more number of muscles than the female system. It is obvious that maintenance of the greater number of muscles will require more proteins. It is no surprise then, that men require more units of protein daily than females.
ALSO READ YOUR BODY CAN ABSORB ONLY THIS MUCH PROTEIN PER MEAL