Protein Deficiency
All You Ever Wanted To Know About Protein Deficiency
A protein deficiency can wreck havoc with your body and cause symptoms that you wouldn't even think could be attributed to your diet. Luckily, there are ways of dealing with a protein deficiency and even if you have certain dietary requirements; there are still ways of adding protein to your system that are quick and easy.
Some common symptoms of a protein deficiency include weight loss, swelling in the feet, legs, and ankles; hair loss or brittle hair; light-pigmented skin; deep lines or ridges in the toenails and fingernails; headaches, stomach pains, and general body aches; fainting and dizziness; insomnia; bedsores and skin ulcers; slowness in healing when it comes to scrapes, bruises, or other skin injuries; weakness and muscle soreness; reduced pigmentation in the hair; and nausea.
There are some symptoms, too, that are not physical but emotional. Although these are not signs of a deficiency on their own, when coupled with other symptoms could be a sign that a protein deficiency exists. Additional symptoms include anxiety, crankiness, moodiness, lack of energy, and depression.
Vegetarians are sometimes at risk of developing a protein deficiency. If adding meat to your diet is not acceptable for you, then there are still ways that you can up your protein intake. There are a variety of foods that contain protein that are not meat products. Tofu, legumes, beans, sprouted seeds, nuts, eggs, algae, seaweed, and some dairy products all contain protein. You can eat these products on their own, or use them as ingredients in other foods, such as chili, to add protein to your diet and help prevent a protein deficiency.
If you have a severe deficiency then you might need intravenous liquids or supplements in order to give your body the protein that it needs. These will be in addition to a diet that is rich in proteins in the future.
There are some risks associated with having a deficiency in proteins. If you are not properly treated, then a deficiency could result in arthritis, gallstones, organ failure, muscle deterioration, heart problems, and even death. It's definitely something that you will want to take seriously.
The good news is that with a proper, well-balanced diet, it is possible to fix a deficiency in protein and to continue eating in a healthy manner. Although vegetarians and vegans can sometimes be placed in high-risk groups for the deficiency, most are able to get enough protein by eating foods other than meat. The fact is, everyone is at risk for a deficiency in protein if they don't eat a well-balanced diet.
If you feel that you are not getting the right amount of protein in your system, then there are steps that you can take to fix this. Adding protein shakes to your daily menu, sprinkling nuts or seeds over your salads, and snacking on whole grain crackers are all small things that you can do that can have beneficial results on your overall protein intake.
It is also important to remember that if your body has experienced recent trauma, surgery, or injury then you will need more protein to keep you healthy. You might need to take extra supplements in order to add protein to your system so that your organs and muscles can repair themselves better.
Continuing to eat a healthy diet that is varied and rich in vitamins and minerals is important. Small decisions, like adding the nuts to your salad, might seem insignificant but overtime can have great positive results on your body. Remember that everything that goes into your body affects it one way or another.