Page 44 - Fall2011

In the unborn an E/P ratio of 32 (275 calories divided by 8.5 block and has that fat-antidote link, some diet
child and percent of protein.) It is possible to label a food specialists have suggested making it the key food
item for its energy content (E/P ratio) and thus to consume. But this is not a good idea nutrition-
young infant, add information to present food labeling. This ally. When no other nutrients are available, the
too little ratio can be a measure of “empty calories,” that body has only protein to use for energy. In order
protein means is, foods likely to contribute to obesity, but with- for protein to be converted to calories, the kid-
out the nutrients required for good health. Low neys must remove nitrogen from the amino acids
that the cells E/P ratios are good and high E/P ratios, bad, for to convert them into a usable form of energy. This

do not form our diets; thus an E/P ratio of 12 is good, and process is called deamonization. It overworks the
in sufficient one of 65 is bad. As you can see from Figure 18, kidneys, which can have some long-lasting, nega-
fish products, meats, milk, and eggs have a low tive effects. An illustration of this comes from
numbers, and E/P ratio; candy bars, doughnuts, cookies, and some early explorers in the U.S. who died after
the cells that pies have a high energy-to-protein ratio. The E/P consuming a diet of rabbits. Rabbit meat is very

are formed ratio of a meal can be drastically changed by an lean and very high in protein. These early explor-
increase of a single food item such as a doughnut ers had what was called “rabbit-starvation,” since
are smaller or by the deletion of a food item such as an egg. they relied on rabbits for their food. Without
4
in size. The We’ve explained how the balance between other nutrients, their bodies could not cope with
child’s growth protein and calories is measured. Now we need the protein. Even Lewis and Clark noted the ef-
to look at why this balance is important. The fects of too much protein in the diet. However,
is stunted, physiological reasons for needing a certain when explorers ate what was called “pemmican,”
and no balance of protein and calories are complex; in they survived; pemmican contains both protein
amount of general they have to do with the fact that it is and fat. Today, a diet overloaded with protein
the proteins that carry the fat, or lipids, in the also taxes the kidney. In other words, good diets
protein blood. As previously stated, any excess calories must include a variety of nutrients.

consumed we take in are converted into fat in our bodies,
later in life and we need additional protein to cope with it. It PROTEIN DEFICIENCy
is a vast oversimplification, but we might think
As previously stated, protein deficiency is
can repair the of protein as a kind of “fat-antidote.” However, a serious matter. Growing children, especially,
damage. too many calories from any source overwhelm need large amounts of protein and are particu-
the system so protein no longer can work as an larly sensitive to its quality. If they do not get
antidote and the antidote analogy breaks down. enough of the right kind, their general growth
The total caloric intake is the problem, not just and development suffers—their minds as well
the fat-to-protein ratio. Eventually that extra fat as their bodies. In the unborn child and young
is deposited in various places in our bodies. infant, too little protein means that the cells do
not form in sufficient numbers, and the cells that
DANGER OF PROTEIN EXCESS are formed are smaller in size. The child’s growth
Because protein is such an essential building is stunted, and no amount of protein consumed

KEY POINTS ABOUT PROTEIN

• High quality protein must be part of any diet because of its overwhelming importance to physical and mental growth
and wellbeing.
• For optimum health, protein containing all the essential amino acids in the correct amounts must be consumed every
day; it cannot be stored in the body like fat.
• Animal proteins are the best kinds of proteins in terms of their nutritional value. Eliminating meat, milk and eggs because
of the cholesterol and fat they contain means losing the high-quality protein and other essential nutrients they provide.
• Plant proteins can provide the essential amino acids only if they are carefully chosen to balance one another, and then
must be eaten in large amounts.
• An all-protein diet is not healthy since it will overtax your kidneys; you need other foods as well.
• When eating high-fat foods, it is important to eat protein at the same time.

44 Wise Traditions FALL 2011 FALL 2011 Wise Traditions

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