Are Protein Supplements Necessary?

The whole world seems to be obsessed with this question. Getting a straight answer to it is difficult. Protein requirements of every individual vary and are based on multiple factors, and this makes the answer difficult.

Protein supplements are actually products that promote nutrient delivery, provided that diet and exercises are already taken care of.  So, if you take a healthy wholesome meal and exercise regularly, then your diet would easily take care of your overall protein requirements. However, the need of protein increases in multiples, when there are associated physical or lifestyle-connected conditions. For instance, a person in the recovery phase after a fracture or a surgery, a teenager, a pregnant woman or a person with heavy-weight training schedule would require additional protein. This is where protein supplements become crucial.  Please bear in mind that taking protein supplements is, as the name suggests, supplementary and NOT an alternative to the actual arrangement, which as mentioned earlier, is the symphonic balance between diet, exercise and lifestyle.

The decision about taking additional protein is tied to the type, intensity and duration of your workouts.  An individual involved in heavy-weight training requires more protein than a less active person.  And so he obviously qualifies to be on protein supplements. Heavy-workout results in tired and starved muscles that need quick recovery.  Whey-based protein supplements are best suited to such muscles, as they would directly reach the target and act on them. Dietary proteins are complex and take longer time to get into the system. Also, as dietary proteins are complex and have other components like fiber and invisible fat, they interfere with normal blood flow to working muscle group. They also inhibit waste removal from damaged muscle tissue. Thus, taking protein-rich foods like pulses, meat, soy, eggs etc., would delay the recovery of muscles after heavy workout.

One does not necessarily need protein supplements to be fit, but they become important when you push your body a little further and take up to exercising earnestly.  After all, who wants tired and worn-out muscles after a heavy physical activity?

Do’s & don’ts for healthy white teeth

It's easy to ignore the effects of poor oral hygiene because they're hidden in your mouth. But teeth can be seen and cannot be ignored. The worst consequence of poor dental health would be lost teeth and some painful time in the dentist's chair.

Do's

• Do brush twice a day, especially last thing before bedtime.
• Do floss between your teeth at least once every 2 or 3 days. It can be anytime after meals, preferably the last thing before bedtime 
• Do eat healthy. Foods like fruits and vegetables are good for you.
• Do take your daily recommended dose of calcium. Teeth act as a store for minerals like calcium in the body and low calcium in the diet makes teeth vulnerable. Drink milk or soy milk. Soy milk is a good source of calcium and it tastes good as well.
• Do go to the dentist regularly. Good dental health can be maintained by cleaning your teeth with special instruments that reach where you can’t and detecting cavities early.
• Do drink clean water; no fluid can substitute water in the body. Juices are not a good substitute as they can hasten tooth decay.

Don’ts  

• Don’t keep candy in the house. It is not a food group or nutritional source and you may eat it at the wrong time (like at night)
• Don’t substitute potato chips/nachos/ pop/soda for a real meal. They contain a lot of sugar, are acidic and not nutritional.
• Don’t stuff medicines like aspirin or orajel into the dental cavities when they hurt. They release chemicals that soften your teeth further. Aspirin is so acidic that it actually burns the soft tissue in your mouth. 
• Don’t smoke. Smoking causes the small blood vessels around the body to shrink. It causes yellow teeth, bad breath, plaque buildup, gum disease and slowed healing after dental procedures. So please quit smoking.
• Don’t abuse whitening strips. It is better to visit a dentist for regular cleaning and whitening. 
• Oh yes. Don’t get into fights. The most frequent cause of anterior tooth loss is a punch to the face. It is disfiguring. Please avoid instances that can lead to fighting, including drinking.