Insufficient protein intake

You should know that the human body cannot do without protein. When protein intake is uneven, it will cause many systemic problems. People who do not take in enough protein often lack water in their bodies. Coupled with the lack of these trace elements, it is easy to cause weight gain, endocrine disorders, and various problems.

Protein and the human body

The human body is about 60% water and about 20% protein. Protein has 20 kinds of amino acids. These amino acids are complexly combined to form muscles, skin, hair, nails, internal organs, immune systems, etc. Most of the organs in the body are formed by protein.

Most foods contain protein, especially meat, fish, eggs, soy products and dairy products, which have particularly high protein content.

Since animal proteins such as meat and dairy products always give people the impression of being high in calories and fat, many people often avoid this type of food when losing weight. However, this can easily lead to protein deficiency in the body, which will bring various adverse effects to the body.

The dangers of insufficient protein intake

1. Even if you exercise, fat is difficult to burn

Insufficient protein will cause a decrease in the number of basal metabolic rates, thereby causing a decrease in muscle mass. Once the amount of muscle decreases, the basal metabolic rate will inevitably decrease as well. If the basal metabolic rate decreases, it will be difficult to burn fat even if you exercise, and the weight loss effect will become very poor. In addition, hair loss, anemia, diarrhea and edema may also occur.

2. Protein deficiency is often accompanied by energy deficiency

When there is only protein deficiency, the main manifestations are edema, growth retardation, skin pigmentation and brittle hair. When protein deficiency is accompanied by energy deficiency, the main manifestations are obvious weight loss, growth retardation, anemia, dry skin and muscle atrophy.

3. Nutritional edema

When protein is malnourished, the body stores very little protein. Even when nutrition is adequate, it only accounts for about 1% of the body's total protein. This protein is called mobilin and is mainly stored in the liver, intestinal mucosa and pancreas. Its loss does not change the organ function. When dietary protein is deficient, tissue protein is broken down quickly and synthesized slowly, leading to a series of biochemical, pathological changes and clinical manifestations. The intestinal mucosa and digestive glands are affected earlier, and the clinical manifestations are malabsorption and diarrhea; the liver cannot maintain normal structure and function, and fat infiltration occurs; plasma protein synthesis is impaired; enzyme activity is reduced, mainly xanthine oxidase and glutamate dehydrogenase; muscle atrophy gradually occurs due to insufficient muscle protein synthesis; due to reduced antibody synthesis, the resistance to infectious diseases decreases; due to adrenal cortex dysfunction, it is difficult to overcome the stress state; collagen synthesis is also impaired, making wounds difficult to heal; slow bone growth and intellectual development disorders can be seen in childhood. Long-term insufficient protein intake can gradually lead to nutritional edema, which can lead to death in severe cases.