Excess Protein Turns Into Fat
Plan your diet wisely.
People on high protein diet often ask me this if they intake more protein to gain bigger muscles will that get converted into fat.
Yes, this can happen, but it is unlikely. Excess protein is more likely to be dispelled from the body than turned to fat. Protein is 58% likely to be converted to glucose, which can be stored as fat. Fats are 10% likely; on the other hand, carbs are 100% likely 100% of the time. This is (once maintenance calories are reached and glycogen stores are full for all of them). It is much better to err a bit on the high side of protein than not enough. Another thing about protein is its thermic quality that is it needs to be broken down into amino acids on digestion, thus creating the effect mentioned and actually using some calories. Many of your good vegetables also have this quality, and some fruits.
Carbs are energy. Carb calories are used to maintain your body weight/ build muscle or can be burned off. If there is any extra left over at the end of the day, the excess will be stored as future energy, i.e. fat.
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CobraCar | Nov 12, 2008 | Reply
Joystick, I’ve heard you should consume atleast 1 g of protein, closer to 1.5 g of protein, per lbs of weight you are to try and gain muscle while working out. Is this a good amount?
Thanks for the article.
joystick7 | Nov 12, 2008 | Reply
CobraCar, You are right. In general this should be an adequate protein amount that you can feed your body with but again it really depends upon your fitness goal.
Also as you know some people dont feed them with enough carbs and in such cases protein intake is not spared for muscle building.
Darla Smith | Nov 18, 2008 | Reply
Great article!
John | Feb 17, 2009 | Reply
its 1-1.5 g per KG not LB.