fitness

Everyone knows the guy (or gal) that sees an infomercial or a movie or even just see something at a garage sale and suddenly have a new pursuit, a new aspiration. One year, they were going to be a tennis star to rival Pete Sampras or Venus Williams. Two weeks later they showed up at the office with their arm in a sling and tack a notice on the bulletin board selling off their gently used tennis gear. The following year, it was hockey and they bought the skates, stick and pads with visions of being as graceful as former Pittsburgh Penguin, Mario Lemieux on the ice. Instead, it was like watching a penguin try to achieve flight and the bulletin hit the board a few days later. This time it is strength training because of all of the benefits that it will provide to them.

We all understand the importance of protein in the diet. Protein is one of three macronutrients that the body needs in order to survive. But did you know that there are different sources of protein, and that some are much better for you than others? It is extremely important to understand healthy eating and the need to have the right proteins in your diet.

The human body is a complex organism that undergoes numerous physical and chemical changes each and every day. While complex in its processes, the makeup of the average human diet is quite simple. According to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board, the human diet should be made up of 40-65 percent carbohydrates, 20-35 percent fats, and 10-35 percent protein (Food and Nutrition Board). Protein is an extremely important macronutrient, not only because it is an important building block in your body and is found in every cell, but because it helps repair your damaged muscles and keeps your body healthy. For athletes, protein plays a vital role in muscle building, so obviously they will be more protein rather than less.

Nutritional status is frequently impaired among hospitalized patients. It is widely agreed that routine hospital practices can further adversely affect the nutritional status of sick patients. There is no doubt that meeting protein requirements is a must, and a lack of protein has serious implications for health, recovery from illness or surgery, and hospital costs. Many body tissues are composed of proteins, and protein requirement is increased for many sick patients as their bodies recover from illness or injury.