Proteins are best described as any of a group of complex organic macromolecules that contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitro amino acids. They also include many substances such as enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions, and are vital to metabolism, hormones, and antibodies, that are necessary for an organism to function properly. They are also important in cell signaling, immune responses, cell adhesions, and the cell cycle, which aids in the maintenance of cell shaping.

Protein is the stuff your body uses to build muscle, and is right behind water as the most prevalent component of your human body. Every metabolic move you make depends on it. Without it, your body couldn’t make enzymes, hormones, hair, muscles or skin.

It is also the most important macronutrient that the human body requires. Scientist have looked deep into human physiology to discover that it is the key to human existence, and the code for protein reside in our DNA, and without it, we would simply cease to exist.

History

The name protein is derived from the Greek work (“proteios), which means “of primary importance”, and was first described and named in 1938, by Baron Jons Jakob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist. However, it was not until 1926 that its central role in living organisms was fully appreciated, when James B. Sumner showed that the enzyme urease was a protein. The first structures to be solved included insulin and myoglobin: the first was by Sir Frederick Sanger, who won a l958 Nobel Prize for doing so, and the second by Max Perutz and sir John Cowdery Kendrew in l958. The myoglobin structure won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for its discoverers.

Amount Needed

The amount of protein needed varies person to person, depending on the physical condition and circumstances involved. There is no blanket prescription for how much we need. As you might expect, when you exercise you need to consume more of it. But exactly how much you need is controversial.

However, eating a lot more than you need will make you fatter not stronger. The reason: whenever you eat more calories than you use up, whether those calories are protein, carbohydrates or fat, the body stores that extra amount as body fat, not muscle.

That understood, working out does up your protein requirements. When you lift weights, for instance, you grow stronger, because after your exercise breaks down muscle fibers, your body uses protein to grow new improved bigger batches of muscle strands.

Benefits of Protein

Bodybuilders and weight lifters are not the only athletes who need extra protein. Scientists have found that folks who take part in endurance events, such as triathlons and marathons, would also benefit from taking it. However, the distinction of needing the largest amount goes to pregnant women and nursing mothers. According to research, pregnant women who skimp on protein give birth to lighter babies(Brit Jrnl OBGYN,6/97). Those babies will grow up to be adults with a greater risk of heart attacks and diabetes decades later (JrnlNut,7l/01).

Growing bodies are also big consumers of protein. Unless kids get enough their nerve development can be compromised (Jrnl Ped, 3/02). This especially applies to teens, in order to fuel their growth surges.

Also, individuals with HIV and the elderly have decreased glutathione levels and a week immune system. (glutathione is an antioxidant, which is important to a healthy-balanced immune system), and whey protein can increase the amount of glutathione in the blood. This is why it has become of interest in immune-suppressed populations.

Fast and slow Proteins

Both fast and slow proteins have their advantages. For example, fast acting protein hydrolysates may offer some advantages immediately post-exercise. In addition, frequent ingestion of fast proteins may optimize muscle protein anabolism. Dr. Paul Cribb and co-workers examined the effects of supplementation with hydrolyzed whey protein and casein on muscle strength and body composition during a 10-week supervised, resistance training program. The results indicated that the whey hydrolysate group achieved a significantly greater gain in lean body mass than the casein group (5.0 versus 0.8 kilograms). They whey hydrolysate group also achieved significantly greater improvement in muscle strength compared to the casein group in each assessment of strength. When the strength changes were expressed relative to bodyweight, the whey group still achieved significantly greater improvement in strength compared to the casein group.

The superiority in whey protein hydrolysate may have something to do with its strong insulinotopic effects and its rapid absorption and uptake. A surge of amino acids are rapidly transported to muscle tissue, where they may help trigger muscle protein synthesis at an accelerated rate. On the other hand, slow-acting proteins may be better at minimizing muscle protein catabolism during prolonged periods between eating (e.g.,pre-bed).

Pre-and Post Exercises Protein/Amino Acid Supplementation

In a recent study conducted by Dr. Darryn Willoughy and co-workers, at the Victoria University in Australia, they examined ten weeks of resistance training and the ingestion of supplemental protein and amino acids on muscle performance and markers of muscle anabolism. The investigators randomly assigned 19 untrained men to supplement groups containing either protein/amino acids (14 grams of whey and casein protein and 6 grams of free amino acids) or 20 grams of sugar. The supplements were ingested one hour before and after exercise for a total of 40 grams per day. The subjects exercised four times per week using 3 sets of 6-8 repetitions at 85 percent to 90 percent of the one-repetition maximum. The results indicated that the ingestion of a blend of proteins and free amino acids is more effective than an isocaloric sugar supplement in improving muscle strength and mass and biomarkers of muscle anabolism (e.g.,muscle IGF-1). Specifically, results showed increases in total body mass, fat-free mass and thigh mass of 4.35,2.70 ad 0.41 kilograms for the sugar group and increases of 7,5.62 and 0.73 kilograms for the protein/amino acid group.

So, pre-and post-exercise amino acid/protein cocktails are beneficial in terms of muscle hypertrophy. Simply put, the results of this study confirmed that pre-and post exercise supplementation results in significantly greater improvements in strength and body composition (i.e., an increase in lean body mass and decrease in body fat) compared to supplementation at times outside of the pre/post-workout time frame.

Striving to build a strong, healthy, pumped-up body takes dedication, commitment and a never say die attitude. Without protein you can never achieve the heights of bodybuilding greatness. To be a successful bodybuilder you need a basic understanding of how your body functions, otherwise you will not reach the peak of your muscle building potential.

Whey Protein Supplements - Protein Supplements - Protein Shakes - Protein Powders - Protein Bars - Optimum Whey

High Protein Diet - Protein Diet