Why Protein Matters in Life Extension & Weight-loss Medicine
Posted on Wed, Dec 07, 2011
Think of protein like the 2 X 4 of the house. Is the structural material that our bodies need to build all the components that make for healthy life. Protein is the raw material that we use to construct our muscles, bones, enzymes and other molecules that make body run. Without adequate protein intake our body simply cannot function.
Now consider that several of the required proteins cannot be manufactured by our body and must be ingested orally, and that protein cannot be stored to be used later. Therefore we require regular ingestion of protein throughout the course of the day to maintain our health. Unlike energy which can be stored as fat and held for later use, the body does not store protein in a similar manner. If our body calls upon protein for an essential function and there's not an adequate supply by virtue of having taking it in our food, the body will start to breakdown its own muscle and vital tissue in order to supply required protein for essential activities. This is one reason why a diet depleted in protein can leave a person obese and physically weak at the same time. The body will continue to break down muscle to feed its essential protein requirement while storing excess calories as fat. Protein also enhances our sense of satiety, which is the sense of feeling full. When we eat protein it is like a slow burn on the fireplace satisfying us for a long period of time. When we eat simple carbohydrates, it is like throwing newspaper on the fire - a fast burn followed by an immediate need for more fuel.
The most important time for good protein ingestion is at the start of your day. After a nights sleep, the body starts the morning looking to restart its vital activities. Protein is required to get the body off to a healthy day. We have often found our patients in the habit of consuming a higher carbohydrate breakfast at the beginning of their day. While this may offer immediate satisfaction, it sets you up for rebound hunger later in the day and induces auto digesting of your own protein and muscle stores as described above.
At The Petteruti Center for Weight-Loss Medicine, we will guide you toward the healthiest and most appropriate source of protein intake to maximize your weight reduction and good health. If needed, we have ready-made protein sources of high-quality and low-calorie ideally suited to support your weight loss objectives. While appropriate and consistent protein intake is required for sustainable weight management, we do not endorse the Atkins type of diet that prohibits carbohydrate intake. Like many other distorted diets, this approach may have short-term gain but is simply not sustainable. Healthy protein intake crafted by your counselor at The Petteruti Center will be an important component of your long-term success.
-Dr. Stephen Petteruti
Dr. Petteruti has been pursuing his passion for greater than 20 years. He brings his unique combination of empathy, intellect, clinical and didactic experience to change the lives of the patients he encounters. He is the Medical Director of The Petteruti Center in Warwick, RI.