Although not directly considered to be a disease, there are a wide array of different complications that can occur when a person suffers from protein deficiency, which is why it’s so important that you’re able to recognize the primary signs and symptoms of protein deficiency. Protein is one of several forms of macro-nutrients that bolsters the energy within your body along with regulating how this energy functions. You need to intake enough protein each day to perform standard bodily functions. It is believed that adult males require around 56 grams of protein each day, while adult females require around 46 grams. It’s possible for you to suffer from protein deficiency if you intake less than 10 grams of protein each day.
The primary risks associated with this condition tend to occur if the protein deficiency occurs over a lengthy period of time. This condition is especially dangerous among children, as children who do not have enough protein in their diet run the risk of suffering from developmental delays that makes it difficult for them to reach adult size. For both children and adults, this deficiency causes the weakening of the immune system, making you more susceptible to the development of infections. The following details some of the main symptoms that occur when a person is affected by protein deficiency.
1. Sluggish Metabolism
The metabolism process that works throughout your body is essential in order to convert the food and drinks that you consume into energy that your body can use throughout the day. Diets that are centered around protein are known to bolster a person’s metabolism, which means that the inverse of this will cause you to suffer from a sluggish metabolism that can have a poor effect on your body in a variety of ways. When the metabolism in your body is healthy and working at a good rate, you will be able to better burn calories and improve your muscle mass.
In the event that your metabolism has slowed down and become sluggish, it’s very difficult to lose weight or improve your overall muscle mass. Given the fact that the consumption of protein is directly tied to how well or otherwise your metabolism is working, many of the symptoms listed here are brought about because of the presence of a sluggish metabolism. However, it’s also important to note that your metabolism will naturally slow down as you age, which is why it’s important to differentiate between natural changes in your metabolism and sudden ones. Signs that your metabolism has slowed include weight gain, chronic fatigue, and hair loss.
2. Trouble Losing Weight
When you don’t get enough protein in your diet, the food and drinks that you consume won’t be converted into energy as well as they’re supposed to, as your metabolism won’t be quick enough. Due to this issue, you could have difficulties with losing weight. When you’re unable to burn as many calories as usual, you could be taking in more calories than you’re losing each day, which will cause you to gain weight. As you burn less calories, your body will store more weight that will show up on the scale when you weigh yourself. This is particularly apparent if you’re exercising yet showing no weight loss.
3. Trouble Building Muscle Mass
When you get the right amount of protein in your diet each day, you will be able to effectively build your muscles. However, a lack of protein in your diet will cause you to have issues when attempting to build muscle mass and may lead to the reduction of the current mass within your muscles. The reason for this is because your muscles are the largest protein reservoir within your body. When your body doesn’t receive enough protein, it will take the protein that’s stored within your muscles and use it for some of the more important tissues in your body.
4. Low Energy Levels
If you’re feeling tired and fatigued on a near-constant basis, this is likely due to low energy levels within your body. Because protein converts everything you eat and drink into energy, consuming less protein means that your energy levels will automatically be too low. Having a high amount of energy is essential towards completing all kinds of different tasks throughout the day. The low energy levels that you experience can be compounded by a variety of additional factors, such as stress, not getting enough sleep, and not exercising as much as you should, which will worsen the amount of fatigue that you experience.
5. Poor Concentration
Protein is just as important to the health of your brain as it is to the overall muscle mass within your body. When your brain doesn’t get the daily protein that it requires, it will be difficult for you to concentrate, which means that performance at your job or in school could likely suffer as a result. Poor concentration is the result of having less energy in your body, which must be distributed throughout many different facets of the body. When your brain doesn’t receive enough energy, your general alertness and concentration will lag, potentially causing you to make poor decisions as well.
6. Moodiness
Proteins consist of a variety of amino acids that your body requires in order to function properly. When your body has become protein deficient, you are no longer receiving some of the amino acids that you require. These amino acids play a substantial role in the neurotransmitters that control your mood. When your diet is filled with proteins, your brain is able to synthesize such hormones as serotonin and dopamine, both of which produce a variety of positive emotions, including happiness, positivity, calmness, and excitement. Without these proteins, the hormones are unable to be properly synthesized, which can increase the amount of anxiety and moodiness you experience.
7. Muscle Pain
When your body is getting the amount of protein that it requires, your muscles will feel strong and capable, while the opposite is true when your body has become protein deficient. Because of the fact that the protein within your muscles needs to be used for more important tissues within your body, it’s possible for you to experience muscle pain as well as an aching sensation in the area that lingers and won’t dissipate until you get enough protein into your diet. If this muscle pain doesn’t go away even after you’ve exercised and lifted weights, there’s a good chance that the pain is caused by protein deficiency.
