Protein is an organic compound that is made of amino acids; in nutrition, protein is broken down during digestion to provide amino acids for your body. Extra protein in a diet is oftentimes advocated by both nutritionists and also bodybuilders in efforts to increase muscle while at the same time losing fat. There is a schism among people in the bodybuilding and nutritionist communities with regards to the need for sufficient protein for the purpose of building up tissues, in contrast with the incorporation of high-protein diets for weight training. In general, you are advised to eat anywhere from 0.6 grams to 1.5 grams of protein per each pound of bodyweight every day.
Protein Builds Muscle
While you don't exclusively need protein to build muscle, it sure helps if you want to build up your muscles more quickly. Due to protein being made up of amino acids and amino acids being the fundamental building blocks of your muscles, protein is essential when it comes to building up your muscles. For people who actively are looking to bulk up their frame, the recommended, daily intake of protein is as follows. You should take between 1 gram to 2 grams of protein, throughout the day, for each pound of bodyweight. As an example, if you weigh 150 pounds, based on the aforementioned instructions, you should be taking between 150 grams and 300 grams of protein each day.
Different Kinds of Protein to Build Muscle
There are different forms of protein available for you to help build up your muscles. You should see which one of the following is best suited for your personal needs. If you are vegetarian, you may want to take soy protein because it comes exclusively from plants. If you are a woman, soy has additional health benefits on top of helping to build muscle. Whey is the second kind of protein, and it is best for protein supplementation that comes right after a workout. This is because you can digest whey quite quickly in about 30 or so minutes. Egg protein is a protein that you can digest at a medium pace of about 1.5 to 3 hours; this makes it a reliable protein that you can ingest at any time. The final kind of protein you can use to build muscle is casein. Casein is one of the most slowly digested forms of protein, so it is ideal to take before sleeping since nighttime is the time your body goes without protein the longest.
Caution
While it is a fact that protein helps build muscle, extra protein may hurt you if you have a preexisting condition. In example, if you have underlying kidney disease, you should not take higher doses of protein in your diet to help you build up your muscles. The reason is because studies have shown that extra protein in your diet can lead to kidney troubles such as renal failure. Further, if you substitute foods that are high in protein for other foods because you are eating more high-protein foods, this will limit the nutrients from other, such foods that you need, which is not good.
