Contents:
- Medical Video: 10 Signs You Might Have a Protein Deficiency
- Overview of protein
- Signs when the body lacks protein
- 1. Easy to be hungry
- 2. Decreased brain function
- 3. Muscles become weak
- 4. Edema occurs
- 5. Easy to get sick and recover from wounds
- 6. Changes occur in the skin and nails
- 7. Hair fall out easily
- 8. Indigestion
Medical Video: 10 Signs You Might Have a Protein Deficiency
Without checking, you can find out that the body lacks protein or not. This is because the body naturally responds to this and gives a sign to you. What are the signs of the body if it lacks protein? See the review as follows.
Overview of protein
Every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs protein. There are proteins that are naturally produced by the body, some are obtained from food. The protein obtained from food is converted into essential amino acids that are useful for repairing and energizing the body.
In addition, proteins also help build muscle, produce new cells so as to accelerate wound healing, regulate hormones and enzymes, and improve immune function.
Signs when the body lacks protein
1. Easy to be hungry
Lack of protein in the body causes you to get hungry easily. Why is that? Protein keeps glucose (sugar) levels stable. So, if the amount of protein is not sufficient, the glucose level automatically becomes unstable. This will encourage you to continue to eat as if the body has not received enough energy.
2. Decreased brain function
Aside from being easily hungry, the lack of protein that causes blood sugar levels to fluctuate (go up and down) will have an effect on your brain. The brain becomes difficult to focus, hard to think, and you can be dazed.
This happens because the protein should help release carbohydrates for energy and move the brain to not be channeled properly because the amount is not sufficient.
3. Muscles become weak
Protein serves to support growth and muscle strength. When the body lacks protein, it's normal for muscles to become weak. Muscles that lack protein will continue to shrink over time. Not only that, you can also feel pain and cramps due to this.
4. Edema occurs
Edema is a buildup of fluid in the tissues and body cavities so that swelling occurs. This happens because proteins that should help regulate and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body are not available. This swelling often occurs in the abdomen, hands, ankles and feet.
5. Easy to get sick and recover from wounds
Reporting from Women 's Health, Blantner said, "Proteins are needed to build all the compounds in the immune system". Therefore, if the amount of protein in the body is not sufficient, the body becomes weak to fight foreign substances and is susceptible to viruses or bacteria. An example is flu.
Lack of protein will also reduce the amount new white blood cells. When a wound occurs, the body needs protein to heal and rebuild damaged cells, tissues, and new skin. Lack of protein will make the wound longer to heal.
6. Changes occur in the skin and nails
The lack of protein in your body makes the skin more sensitive when exposed to sunlight. The skin will crack, peel off, dry, appear a rash, and easily burn when exposed to sunlight. In addition, lack of protein can cause brown spots on the nails.
7. Hair fall out easily
Reported from Live Strong, hair contains 90 percent protein. If the hair lacks proten, the hair will be brittle and easily fall out. In addition, the hair will also become drier and change color and become thinner the size of the hair shaft.
8. Indigestion
In addition to feeling weak, lethargic, and tired, a lack of protein in the body can make you experience headaches, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, even fainting or loss of consciousness. This happens because protein helps transport and release nutrients throughout the body.
If the amount of protein is not sufficient, it will interfere with homeostatsis, which is the concentration of substances in the body. In addition, this can also eliminate appetite, cause insomnia, and disrupt the body's temperature balance.
However, keep in mind that the above signs can also appear in addition to the low protein in the body. There are several diseases that can cause these signs to appear as a symptom. So to be sure, the best step you should do is consult your health with your doctor.
