Medical Questions » Diet Questions » Question No. 1170
| Question: | How do I know if I' m getting enough protein? |
| Answer: | Apart from growth and development, protein is used in the body for energy and is needed in the manufacture of hormones, antibodies and enzymes, as well as helping to maintain the proper acid alkali balance in the body. If someone is deficient, they will have generally poor health. That means poor wound healing, depression, apathy, frequent infections, hormonal imbalance, imbal-ances in blood sugar, fatigue, an under-functioning liver and more, depending on which amino acids are lowest, as they each have different functions in the body.
Obtaining enough protein is not difficult. Ideally it should make up at least 15 per cent of the calorific intake, and that' s easily achieved by having at least two daily servings of beans, lentils, quinoa, tofu, eggs, fish, cheese, seeds or nuts. If your energy is poor, eating protein whenever you eat carbohydrates can really help to stabilise blood sugar. Snack on pumpkin or sunflower seeds when you eat a piece of fruit, and balance out baked potatoes with grilled free range chicken, mackerel or a bean stew. |
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