Protein is one of the four macronutrients in food that we discussed earlier.
When protein is broken down through digestion, the amino acids in the food become the building blocks for our bodies. Protein provides the body with energy, builds new cells, tissue, muscles, and raises metabolism. Protein also activates digestive enzymes to assist you with digestion, stabilizes blood sugar, and helps to manufacture hormones and antibodies.
Some amino acids are produced in our bodies. However, there are other amino acids which are not produced and must be consumed in food.
There are basically two ways to classify protein when it comes to the amount of amino acids they contain:
- Complete Proteins are foods which contain all of the essential amino acids (those not supplied in the body).
- Incomplete Proteins are foods which contain only some amino acids.
Types of complete protein foods include meat, fish, milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs. These are usually a regular source in the American diet. In fact, many of us (including me) bought into the idea that a high protein diet was a good way to lose weight and actually benefited our health. But, according to Dr. Mercola, consuming too much protein “may fuel weight gain, yeast overgrowth and cancer.”
Eating too much meat can also cause an imbalance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids (more on this later). And of course you may have heard about the risk to our health with all of the antibiotics and hormones injected into animals which may lead to a hormone imbalance in our bodies as well as leave us with a resistance to antibiotics. At the time I was cured of 4 ailments, I had not switched to organic foods because we couldn’t afford it. However, I did consume less meat and dairy
At the same time I combined certain incomplete protein foods which, when combined with each other, make a complete protein. For instance, combining beans with brown rice, corn, nuts, seeds or wheat makes a complete protein (a food which contains all of the necessary amino acids). Examples would include having bread with nut butter, or beans with rice in a burrito.
Making sure I get the right amount of protein in my daily eating habits was crucial because I also learned that if I didn’t get enough protein it could cause my body to rob protein from tissues and weaken the cell membrane. (A problem that was easily solved by using the plate diagram included in the article (“Adopt Portion Goals.”)
Signs of deficiency of protein may include failure to heal from injuries, chronic back pain, fatigue, and mood imbalances.
That’s why I believe God says,
(Genesis 9:2,3) “Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
In Acts 27:34, after a time of fasting, Paul said, “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health.”
Sounds like a very loving God to me!
Resources:
Dr. Mercola, Dr. Axe (For additional resources see Resource Page.)
Take me to Step Five – Learn to Cook with Herbs.
But before you go, be sure to leave a comment and let me know if you have a creative way to measure teh amount of protein you consume every day.
