A higher protein diet typically enhances metabolism and supports healthy weight loss. For example, a whey protein smoothie with a serving of fruit typically provides great energy and reduces cravings for food. However, a small percentage of people seem to get even hungrier between meals as a result of a high protein meal. A new study with green tea not only explains why but also suggests green tea is a solution for this problem.

When your liver sees protein coming to it then it is a major metabolic wake-up call. A higher-protein meal can boost your metabolic pace by 35 percent for 12 hours, as your liver must take apart protein and put it back together again in substances your body actually uses. Thus, getting protein to work in your favor is a really good thing.

A higher-protein meal invariably contains higher amounts of glutamate, which is vital to your body’s energetic systems. Such glutamate is broken down by an enzyme called glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). A new study shows that the polyphenols from green tea (epigallocatechin gallate – EGCG) can compensate for inefficient or even absent function of this important enzyme.

You would know you have a problem in this area if you get hungry or feel more hypoglycemic following a high protein meal. Research shows that malfunctioning GDH causes an excessive insulin response, resulting in low blood sugar. This is not the typical response to a high protein meal for most people, but I bring it up as it does happen to some. It is fascinating that EGCGs in green tea can correct this problem, even if the GDH enzyme doesn’t work at all! 

The researchers point out that this very same mechanism is also applicable to several types of tumors (and most likely the majority of tumors). Healthy cells and cancer cells compete for nutrition. Cancer cells appear to hijack this GDH system in a way that takes protein and feeds the growth of cancer. If you don’t eat protein when you have cancer you will wither away and die, so it is not an option to restrict protein intake during cancer treatment in an attempt to “starve” cancer, as you will starve first.  Researchers are now showing that EGCG turns off the hijacking of protein by tumors, causing them (but not healthy cells) to become malnourished and more susceptible to being killed. Once again, it is fascinating that the very same nutrient helps the human body use protein more efficiently while being able to tell the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells, and then actually shutting down the use of protein by cancer cells.

If EGCG were a scientist it would be awarded a Nobel Prize.

Posted by Byron J Richards at 03:34 PM.

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