What happens with that extra protein?

You may have noticed it has been a couple days since my last post.  Unfortunately, my Babci (polish for grandma) died about 10 days ago and I went to Florida to the funeral service and to be with family.  I have mentioned her from time to time on the blog for various reasons.  Usually, I mention how she was a typical American who called her diet healthy and she really believed it to be so.  While I was with her, I observed how she and her husband ate a diet with a lot of meat, which resulted in high fat and included refined carbohydrate foods like breads and cereals.

 

We can't control everything in life, but to age gracefully without the burden of degenerative disease is the true gift of health we can give ourselves.

 

This kind of diet led to degenerative health over the last few years that she was alive.  It pained me to see her suffer how she did.  I am writing this because I can only assume that many of you reading this can relate in some way (or all ways) to the story I tell.  Health is a way of life, and so is disease.  From what I have read about some of the healthiest cultures in the world, dying is a few week process of the body running out of gas.  It’s not supposed to be years of suffering, infections, losing basic motor functions and memory.

Numerous studies have shown that with adequate amounts of omega 3s and antioxidants, as we age our memory and cognitive abilities should stay intact as well as being able to move around normally.  It just makes me so sad to see so many of our aging population’s health decline in such a tragic way.  That is (a) reason why I write this blog; In hopes that you can make changes in time to age more gracefully and also so that you may be able to suggest small changes for your parents and grandparents.  Hopefully they might be able to avoid some of the painful experiences that many of our elders face in the aging process as a result of the typical Western diet.

 

Life is a crap shoot. We could get hit by a bus tomorrow, or eat like crap and live til 120. We alone can choose to live our life hoping to avoid the probabilities or we can bet against the odds and hope for a long shot victory. Learn about health and put the odds in your favor.

 

On to the third installment of The Body Blog’s series on protein.  Over the first and second posts in this series we have discussed that animal protein is an inefficient source of energy in addition to being acidic to your blood which requires a loss of valuable minerals.  Also, remember that just because you get all the essential amino acids, doesn’t mean that you don’t need any others.

There is so much to say about protein that I am going to try to be even more conversational so as to just get it out there.  If you have experiences to add or questions to ask, just write in the comment section and we can keep the conversation going that way.  Let’s talk about the protein requirements for the body today.

Different people have different protein and caloric requirements.  This fact is what causes so much confusion and disagreement.  Your doctor may tell you one thing (although we’ve already found out that they rarely if ever receive enough education in med school to advise you about your nutrition needs).  If you have a trainer, or if you know one of those people who knows “everything” about working out they will have their own opinion for sure.  Then there is also disagreement about eating after you workout, supplement drinks, how soon you should take them and which ones etc…This is my opinion.

So in the last blog I promised more on protein conversion to glucose.  I have been doing a lot of searching and reading and yes, protein (amino acids) can be converted to glucose and burned as energy.  So if you are consuming more protein that your body requires, the extra is handled in two ways: it is either converted to glucose and burned as fuel for your cells, or your liver converts excess amino acids to urea and your kidneys flush it out.

 

I you actively eat with your liver and kidney's health in mind, the rest of your organs will remain strong and vibrant.

 

I want to focus on the urea for a moment.  This is a waste product that comprises a lot of your urine.  Given that it is waste, you don’t want this floating around your system.  That’s why we pee.  Our bodies want to get rid of it.  Well, it’s possible that consuming too much protein over time will lead to an increased load of urea for our kidneys to process.  Remember kidneys clean the blood and they do a very good job, but if we work them too hard for too long, serious health problems can occur.  Kind of like too much alcohol consumption puts an increased load on your liver, too much protein puts an increased load on your kidneys.  Ideal and elongated health depends on 2 things: strong liver and clean blood.

 

If you only remember one thing I've ever written consider this question to ask yourself at meal time: Would Russ recommend I have more vegetables on my plate right now?

 

Yes, our body will convert some protein to glucose (if needed) to be burned as energy.  That’s why you hear people recommend high protein meals for people on diets.  The theory is that with more protein, your body will take it’s time digesting and converting it which results in the person not being hungry as much.  This may be true but look at it from the other side of the coin.  More protein equals harder job for your liver and kidneys to perform.  BUT more importantly, those that focus on protein usually don’t have the time (or stomach capacity) to focus on getting LOTS of nutrients.  Meat is acidic when it digests, so you would need a tremendous amount of minerals and antioxidants to help your body balance this out.

Last point for the day, and then I will continue on the next blog.  Animal protein (for reasons I have not been able to scientifically rationalize yet) enters the blood and causes it to clump together.  I have a feeling that saturated fat plays a role too.  These clusters of blood cells cause at least two potential harmful effects: It’s harder for your kidneys to clean the blood when it’s thicker.  Also, blood’s purpose of carrying oxygen to our extremities is compromised.  Clumped blood means that less blood makes it to the outer reaches of our body with less oxygen which puts stress on those cells.  A stressed cell dies sooner, which I can only see as a health detriment!

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