Protein, The Energy Power House
Bodybuilding requires protein besides carbohydrates and fat. The natural dietary source of protein is meats, nuts, dairy products, legumes, eggs and grains. An estimated 46 grams of protein per day protein is required for an adult female. It is 56 grams of protein per day for an adult male. The difference in the protein requirement is due to the higher body weight of male as well as higher muscle mass. If the minimum protein requirements are not met, there is likely to be protein deficiency.
Protein from the tissues is broken down continuously. Maintaining good health requires the consumption of adequate protein. When the protein intake is less than what is required, the protein in the muscle mass is broken down to meet energy needs. This will result in the wasting away of muscles. Higher level of physical activity demands higher intake of protein. That is why bodybuilders are required to consume more protein than others.
Those who are involved in bodybuilding require additional protein besides carbohydrate and fat. During weight training and intense physical exercise, micro tears occur in the muscles. This requires food energy to recoup from the wearing out of the muscles. It is in this process that muscle build up occurs which requires adequate rest and additional food energy. Bodybuilders satisfy their additional energy needs from special diet supplements or food supplements. There are numerous products in the market which fulfill this requirement. Some of these products are Ny-Tro Pro-40, BSN Cell Mass, BSN No-Xplode, Purple Wraath and BSN Syntha-6. Users experience and reviewer comments can be accessed from the Internet by searching, for instance, BSN Syntha-6 review for BSN Syntha-6.
Excess protein consumption does not lead to problems as the body is not able to store this excess protein. Protein deficiency is widespread in developing countries and is a major cause of ill health and death. The major cause of protein deficiency is malnutrition. This leads to diseases such as kwashiorkor, and mental retardation. Though protein deficiency is rare in developed countries, yet it exists. This happens especially with people who are on a crash diet to lose weight or the elderly or those with poor diet or those who are recovering from trauma, surgery or illness.
