Protein is an essential nutrient, but it’s often under-consumed by Americans due to our high fat and carb intake. Protein deficiency can make you feel tired, hungry and weak—all signs of a less-than-healthy body. But what does protein deficiency actually look like? We’ve gathered some of the most common symptoms below:
Protein deficiency can cause unwanted cravings
Protein deficiency can cause you to crave high calorie foods, sugar, fat, salt and carbohydrates. Protein is a major component of your body’s cells and enzymes–and when you’re deficient in it your body will want more. This can lead to cravings that are hard to control!
Protein deficiency can affect your hair, nails and skin
- Hair loss: Protein deficiency can cause hair loss, as the body is not able to produce enough keratin to form new strands of hair.
- Nails become brittle and break easily: As a result of a lack of essential amino acids, nails become brittle and break easily.
- Dry skin: With fewer nutrients available for cell growth, your skin may become dry and flaky as well as rough in texture or color
Protein deficiency can cause fatigue and tiredness
This is because the body needs protein to build muscle, which helps us stay active throughout the day. If you’re not getting enough protein, your body will have a harder time functioning at peak levels. For example: If you’re feeling lethargic or run down all of the time (and it’s not because of something else), consider whether or not this might be caused by protein deficiency.
Protein deficiency makes you feel hungry all the time
Protein deficiency causes people to feel hungry all the time, even when they just ate. You can’t stop thinking about food, and it’s not just because you’re a picky eater or don’t like vegetables. You might start craving sugar, salt or other things that are generally considered unhealthy for you–but at this point, you don’t really care about such things as cholesterol levels or blood pressure anymore; your only concern is getting enough calories into your body so it can function properly without falling apart completely. Protein deficiency also makes people tired and weak–so much so that even simple tasks like walking become difficult for them (if they can even manage to walk). They may also feel cold all the time because their bodies aren’t producing enough heat due to lack of fuel from food sources such as meat products which contain protein.*2* This means there’s no way around wearing layers when going outside during winter months if you notice these symptoms!
Protein deficiency makes it difficult to lose weight
Losing weight can be difficult, but if you’re not getting enough protein in your diet, it may be even more challenging. If a person is deficient in this essential nutrient and begins a restrictive diet that cuts out too many calories or carbs, their body will start breaking down its own tissues for energy instead of burning fat stores for fuel. This can lead to muscle loss and weakness–and no one wants that!
You should be careful about protein intake. Protein is an important nutrient, and it’s easy to get enough of it if you eat a balanced diet. But if you have a low protein intake for long periods of time, this can lead to negative effects on your body. We hope that this article has helped you understand the symptoms of protein deficiency. If you feel like you may be experiencing any of them, then it’s important that you visit your doctor as soon as possible so they can diagnose your condition and offer treatment options.
