The importance of protein in our daily diet has been clearly established by nutritional scientists, and widely acknowledged by athletes. Among other vital functions, protein is essential for creating strong muscles. Just as important is protein’s fundamental power to repair damaged muscle tissue after training[i].
While the value of protein in a balanced diet has been accepted and promoted within the athletic community, it has been less well circulated inside the very massive sedentary population. Presently making up roughly twenty five percent of Americans[ii] – or one in four individuals – sedentary individuals are defined as those who undertake less than half an hour of moderate physical activity each day[iii].
A key problem to solve, therefore, is that the bulk of those sedentary people don't grasp that they are, or more likely are not, getting a sufficient amount of protein in their daily diet. This large group of inactive people seems to reflect a belief in the myth that protein-rich nutrition is vital solely for athletes and those who are physically active. The Reference Daily Intake[1] quantity for protein is 50 grams, and most sedentary individuals are not coming close to meeting this standard.
Next to water, protein is the body’s most prevalent substance. Protein is the essential building block for muscle and tissue, and important for the functioning of vital systems, such as digestion. Protein even assists you to regulate and manage hormones and chemicals that influence mood and coping capability one thing that has an effect for all folks, irrespective of exercise levels. In fact, within the context of protein deficiency-connected mood disorders, one may make a case that a sedentary individual on the dangerous road to obesity would possibly be psychologically better equipped to execute a disciplined (e.g. healthy) eating program if, among other key factors, a complete protein diet existed at the start.
However there is another associated challenge that is arguably more harmful. The tiny bit of information that almost all Sedentary People have been receiving concerning protein – bits and pieces of data here and there, principally from marketers and advertisers – are often outright misleading. This is most clearly seen in the world of fast food.
Many sedentary people who have some rudimentary awareness of protein’s necessity in our daily diet assume, owing largely to promotional campaigns, that fast food hamburgers are a “sensible supply of protein”. Lost in this belief is the fact that virtually all fast food burgers are virtually thoroughly unhealthy options that are high in saturated fat, calories, sodium, cholesterol, and the list goes on.
In truth, a popular burger contains fifty two percent of the recommended daily value (DV) of fat, and over five hundred calories, of which sixty percent are from fat[2]. These clearly unhealthy characteristics diminish the nutritional value from the burger’s twenty four grams of protein.
It's essentially due to the current lack of knowledge – and simultaneous existence of propaganda -- that forestalls many sedentary individuals from learning about the significance of protein. At exactly the same time, it's also apparent to medical consultants that the thought of a sedentary way of life could be a serious world health problem that must be addressed sooner rather than later[iv].
Addressing this problem is, like many chronic health conditions, difficult and multi-layered. However acknowleding this complexity is, in in and of itself, a starting point for a answer one that has got to at the same time be multi-layered and holistic in approach. Awareness of protein should extend past the boundaries of the “fit and physical” communities, and at the same time, methods for sedentary folks to access protein must be developed ways that are much healthier than fast food burgers.
Regardless of the difficult and admittedly uphill battle that a lot of sedentary individuals face nowadays, there's grounds to be rationally optimistic. There are products out there that are providing balanced sources of complete protein, nevertheless in responsible, low-calorie and fat-free portions. Given that these products are fortified with vitamins and nutrients, they will be used as either a supplement or a whole meal replacement. This is of notable value for people trying to lose weight and “time starved” people who are seeking quick, convenient ways in which to eat healthy.
Ultimately, solving this problem of sedentary Americans can not be easy, nor can it be quick. It has taken decades to make the statistic that one in 4 Americans lead sedentary lifestyles and it might take generations to untie this knot. The hallmarks of unraveling it, however, are clear: quality awareness, quality understanding, and above all, quality nutritional products that consumers both demand, and indeed, thoroughly deserve from their food manufacturers.
[1] Formerly referred by its better-known name “Recommended Daily Allowance”.
[2] The USDA’s recommendation is 30% calories from fat
References
[i] Source: “The Power of Protein”. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1996/04_96/protein.htm
[ii] Source: “What We Think is Making Us Fat”. About.com. http://walking.about.com/cs/howtoloseweight/a/obesitycause404.htm
[iii] Source: “Cost and Consequences for Sedentary Living: New Battleground for an Old Enemy”. Presidents Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. http://www.fitness.gov/researchdigestmarch2002.pdf
[iv] Source: “Sedentary Lifestyle: a Global Public Health Problem”. The World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/hpr/physactiv/sedentary.lifestyle1.shtml
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About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect (www.profect.com), IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. One area of specialty is the manufacturing of Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for bariatric patients.
You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com - Copyright - Protica Research
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