9 signs that you are deficient in protein

Our muscles, internal organs and tissues are made up of proteins. Protein is thus one of the most important components of our body. These are long-chain amino acids that are important for the growth, development and maintenance of bodily functions. Check to see if you are missing them.

Protein helps us heal wounds, helps control blood sugar and neutralizes bacteria. They also help maintain a healthy weight and healthy muscles. It is important to consume enough of them, so it is good to know how we can get them into our body. A lot of protein is found in eggs, legumes, seeds, nuts, fish, meat and dairy products. If we are deficient in protein, we can deal with the following symptoms.

1. Anxiety and mood disorders

As mentioned, amino acids are the building blocks of almost every cell in our body, including neurotransmitters – the transmitters of information in our brains. Protein helps produce dopamine and serotonin, two chemicals in the brain that are responsible for good mood, good memory, and feelings of happiness and contentment. If you are dealing with anxiety and mood disorders, there can of course be several reasons for this, not just a lack of protein. That’s why talk to your doctor about it.

2. Frequent injuries

Protein is important for calcium absorption. Calcium, on the other hand, is a mineral that is crucial for strong bones. Thus, it is not uncommon for a lack of protein to lead to more frequent muscle and bone injuries. Bone fractures, bone weakness, or even osteoporosis are more common.

3. Feeling of blurred thoughts

Feeling blurred thoughts is actually a combination of several symptoms – fatigue, confusion, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and general impaired mental activity. This is almost always caused by some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain. The problem can also be due to a hormonal imbalance, for example due to thyroid problems (under-functioning thyroid), but it can also be due to a number of other problems, including protein deficiency. Dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine and serotonin are chemicals in the brain that we need for good concentration. If we have too little protein in our body, we may be deficient in these chemicals.

4. High cholesterol

Lack of protein is often the result of eating too many simple carbohydrates and fatty foods. Protein increases our feeling of satiety. If we don’t eat enough of them and if we eat unhealthy simple carbs instead, we lead the body to need unhealthy snacks even more. This leads to elevated levels of inflammation in the body and hormonal imbalance. Both lead to higher LDL levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.

5. Digestive problems

We need enough amino acids for healthy metabolism and digestion. When these are not provided, our gut begins to produce fewer digestive enzymes, leading to digestive problems. If you are struggling with digestive problems, the first piece of advice is to arrange your diet and help yourself with probiotics or probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kambucha, sauerkraut, home-made kefir.

6. Irregular menstruation

Low protein diets and a diet rich in carbohydrates and sugar can lead to insulin resistance, fatigue, inflammation in the body, weight gain. In women, also to hormonal imbalance, which is manifested by irregular menstruation. However, you should see a gynecologist for this symptom, as the causes may be different. Irregular menstruation may, among other things, also indicate polycystic ovary syndrome.

7. Problems with insomnia

There are many reasons for sleepless nights, but one of them is also a lack of protein. The impact of protein deficiency on sleep is systematic, as they usually follow one problem after another. First, carbohydrates replace proteins, carbohydrates reduce the amount of insulin needed to regulate sugar levels. Lack of protein raises the level of cortisol – a stress hormone. All this, in turn, leads to insomnia.

8. Gaining extra pounds

Many good sources of protein have high levels of fat and calories, but the difference is that protein gives us a feeling of a much greater feeling of satiety than other foods. In addition, protein stabilizes blood sugar levels much better than carbohydrates throughout the day. The end result, however, is that we receive enough protein for normal body function and a healthier body weight.

9. Nail problems

Nails are made up of the amino acids that make up the nail protein keratin. If the nails break, are split, brittle and grow slowly, this is a sign that we have too few amino acids or proteins. Lack of protein also shows up on the skin first. In people who are on a low-protein diet, this first shows up on the skin as it becomes wrinkled, seemingly tired. We notice how quickly people have aged. That is why it is also important for a beautiful appearance, for beautiful skin, hair and nails that we consume enough protein.