That’s what a recent news report tallied that the line-up at a physique contest consumed – in one day. So, it’s not surprising that most people view bodybuilders as protein junkies, shovelling the stuff into their oversized frames by the bucket load. The reality is not that different. Muscle heads the world over are, indeed, overloading on protein – they have been for decades. But do they really need to? What’s the muscle protein connection anyway? And just how much of it is needed to stimulate optimal muscle growth? Let’s get up to speed with a little protein 101.

What it is / What it does

Protein has rightly been called the building block of the human body. Everything – from the tip of your head to your big toe – is made from it. After water, protein is, in fact, the most abundant substance in your body – and about 70% of it can be found in your skeletal muscles. Rather than sitting idle, the protein in your body is constantly being lost and broken down due to natural bodily functions. That’s why your body needs to constantly replace its protein stores in order to maintain itself. This process of cell repair starts when you chow down a chicken breast. As it passes down the throat, the proteins in your piece of chicken are separated by enzymes (which are also proteins) into sub-units called amino acids.

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute in California, are researching a way to flick on a protein switch gene that could lead to new treatments in preventing obesity.

Sounds like my kind of drug….

How many of dieters would pay good money just to be able to turn off the urge to snack? If statistics are correct in the amount of people that are buying into the diet supplement trend, then I would say that the ever expanding market could handle another one.