Proteins when included in the diet become the basic and only sources of amino acids in the body. The amino acids constitute the building blocks used by the human body to fashion out new growth and consolidate the existing tissues. These basic function actually underlies the three-faceted role of proteins in a body builder’s system. This article tries to exemplify in simple terms what the proteins do once ingested into the body.

The first role of amino acids is to facilitate the genesis and or building of new cells in the body. New tissues are formed from amino acids. This is the maxim behind the popular saying among body builders that you build as much muscles as the proteins you eat. The generation of new cells, tissues, fibers, ligaments, tendons and other body cells can not occur in the absence of proteins. To build new muscles, a body builder must therefore ingest adequate supplies of proteins through the diet, on a daily basis. While growth stimulation is achieved in the gym, the growth occurs during rest moments like sleep, and amino acids are the main building blocks used.

The second role of proteins is muscle repair and regeneration. After every training session, especially where intense workouts are achieved, the muscles are totally exhausted. They need to be revived before the body builder can proceed with training in subsequent training sessions. It is proteins that come in as the booster, rectifying any cell malfunctions. This regeneration takes place with a complemented supply of both proteins and carbs.

Every training session usually pushes the muscles to their outer limits of exhaustion. Sometimes, muscle cells are damaged in the process, especially if there was overtraining or poor exercising form. Fro these injured or damaged cells, the body must heal and renew them before the muscles can be normal again. Those slightly injured cells are usually repaired and healed using the available repertoire of amino acids, while those cells damaged beyond repair are readily replaced with new muscle cells. The process of recovery after workouts, constitutes the repair and healing of injured cells, and the replacement of those muscle cells that are damaged beyond repair. The key nutrient in this process is exclusively proteins.

The conversion of proteins in the liver also gives rise to glucose which is then used as energy by the body. This process of protein combustion is called catabolic metabolism and only occurs when the body produces a digestive hormone called cortisol. It is a very delimiting process since proteins ought to be used fro muscle generation repair and rejuvenation and not as a source of energy. Fats and carbs are the major and safe sources of energy and catabolism only accrues when their supply is lower than the energy requirements of a body builder. The seriously extreme cases of catabolism can cause the body to digest actual muscle tissues for energy, if no choice is offered in the form of carbs and fats. That leads to loss of weight and muscle mass.

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