Protein and its effect on human growth

What is protein?

Protein is considered to be a type of Molecular Biology or Macromolecule, containing one or long chains of amino acid residues. It performs many functions within its subject including enzyme catalysis, DNA replication, responses to the stimulation and metabolism process.

This substance was discovered by Gelite, a Dutch scientist in 1838. It is compared as an important building block for the human body because it builds our muscles, tendon, organ system, and skin. Moreover, protein is also used to create enzymes, hormones, neurotransmitter chemicals and other smaller substances to serve other purposes inside the human body. In other words, protein is the most important macromolecules contributing to the development and recovery of body muscle groups. Any shortage of protein will probably lead to severe damages to our body.

Protein and human height growth

As mentioned before, protein is the building blocks of the human body, makes up 18% of human weights. All of our cells and organs, including liver, kidney, heart, skin, hair, brain, muscle, lymph and blood plasma are constructed by protein.

Protein is absolutely crucial for infants from 0-6 years old, those in their early life and the period of transformation. To be more specific, in their first 2 months, 50% of protein intakes are used for developing their bodies, the remaining 50% will maintain the activity status of muscles and tissues. At the age of 3, 11% of protein substances are absorbed for height growth and weight increase benefiting bone solidity.

Unbalanced diets during the growing period, will probably have several negative impacts on bone growth. For example, having protein deficiency will make our bones less solidity due to the insufficient in secreting a type of hormone called Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1). The reason for that is this hormone is an important ingredient in constructing our skeletal system. In addition, it also helps to accelerate the absorption of calcium, phosphorus in human guts, as well as strengthens the calcium and Vitamin D converting process in the kidney.

There exists a strong positive relationship between the content of protein intakes and skeletal system’s weight in children. During their growing period, having enough protein content is a must to create a sufficient content of hormone IGF-01, thus making full use of children genetic potentials for the development of bones, muscles, neurons.

Changes in demand for protein intakes

In accordance with the American National Academy of Sciences, under no circumstances should the minimum daily needed of Protein intakes for males be less than 56 grams, females than 46 grams, and children than 19 grams to 34 grams depending on age groups.

On no account should adults and elder people exceed the recommended amount of protein content, otherwise, their body will excrete calcium via the urinary system, which is a leading cause of kidney disease. Therefore, it is advisable to have a correct measurement of protein intakes as suggested by an authentic nutritionist.

Hand-portion method

Not every one of us could acquire a good knowledge of nutrients nor always bring with us with protein measuring tools. So the question is, how do we control our food daily food intakes?

One simple way, as said by British nutritionists, is using the Hand-portion method can help to calculate the food portions we consume every day. It can be applied as follows:

- Protein: Could be found in fishes, dairy products, seeds and beans, measured by the size of our palms not including fingers.

- Fat: As in cheeses, butter and animal fat. We use the tip of our fingers to determine a correct portion for daily consumptions

- Green vegetables and seeds: The needed portion would equal to the size of both of our hands. It will contain enough fibres for one typical day.

- Carbohydrate: Because this biomolecule is rich in calories and fibres, as a consequence, it should account for onefourth of daily meals. The suggested portion (before cooking) is exactly the size of one clasping hand.

- Sugar: Maximum 30 grams a day