Protein vs. Glucose

Both protein and glucose supply your body with calories; nevertheless they are not the same thing. But it's not really a matter of competition between protein and glucose, because both nutrients are essential to the health of your body.

Function

• Proteins break down into amino acids, often referred to as "the building blocks of life." The main role of protein is to supply your body with the materials it needs to build, maintain and repair your body's tissues. Glucose is a sugar derived from carbohydrates; it functions as your body's primary source of energy.

Distinction

• Your body does not break down protein and glucose the same way. Each substance follows its own catabolic pathway. The pathway glucose follows offers the most efficient means of producing energy.

Percentages

• The FDA recommends 45 to 65 percent of your daily caloric intake come from carbohydrates, or carbs, and 10 to 35 percent from proteins. These percentages reflect the supply quantity of these nutrients required by your body to balance its functional needs.

Misconceptions

• Many low-carb weight-loss diets are founded on the philosophy that sugar is "toxic" to the body because it triggers the release of insulin, which converts glucose to fat, so these diets propose a high-protein meal plan to supposedly counteract this effect. However, all excess calories (including those derived from protein) get converted and stored as fat.

Benefits

• The weight-loss success of low-carb, high-protein diets is actually attributable to the high level of satiety high-protein diets tend to offer; which in turn prompts you to consume fewer calories and thus lose weight. But the same benefit of satiety can be had from a diet which focuses on fiber-rich, slow-digesting carbs.