6 negative symptoms of protein deficiency

Protein is one of the 3 macronutrients your body needs to survive. Your body uses protein to build, maintain, and repair all the cells in the body. Without this essential nutrient, your body will be unable to maintain healthy cells and you will also experience a number of negative side effects. In this article I will discuss 6 of the negative symptoms of protein deficiency.

1) KWASHIORKOR:- Kwashiorkor is a type of protein deficiency that affects young children. It has numerous unpleasant symptoms including enlarged liver, swelling in the abdomen, dispigmentation of the skin, and thinning of the hair. It can also weaken the immune system and cause poor mental and physical development.

2) MARASMUS: – Marasmus is a form of protein deficiency that can cause fatigue, muscle atrophy, low energy levels and weight loss. Like kwashiorkor, it can also weaken the immune system and increase the risk of infection among sufferers.

3) EDEMA:- Edema is a condition where too much fluid accumulates in the body. It can cause swelling in many parts of the body, including the feet and hands. Edema can also cause pain in the extremities, high blood pressure, and stiff joints.

4) ORGAN FAILURE:- One of the most severe symptoms of protein deficiency is organ failure. As I mentioned at the beginning of the article, protein is essential for the building, maintenance, and repair of all cells in your body. A prolonged lack of protein in the diet means that your body does not have the fuel it needs to maintain and repair the cells of the organs. Ultimately, this leads to limited organ function and, in the worst case, complete organ failure.

5) MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS:- Protein deficiency has been linked to a number of mental health problems. It can cause anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and in the worst cases, mental retardation.

6) WASTE AND SHRINKING OF MUSCLE TISSUES: – Muscle tissues are one of the richest sources of protein in your body. If your diet is protein-deficient for long periods, your body will turn to your muscles for the protein it needs. When this happens, the muscles contract and become weak.

RESUME

As you can see, protein deficiency can pose a serious risk to your health. Fortunately, there are many dietary sources of this important macronutrient with dairy, fish, meats, nuts, and even certain fruits and vegetables containing high levels. So if you want to avoid protein deficiency and maintain optimal health, make sure that at least 15% of your daily calories come from protein.