Can protein be converted into fat?

As we all know, the reason why a person becomes fat is because of fat accumulation. Therefore, we must pay attention to healthy eating in our lives and avoid consuming foods with high fat content, so as to reduce fat production. Some people believe that protein can be converted into fat, so they should eat less foods containing protein. From a professional perspective, is this view correct?

How protein is converted into fat

The three major energy sources for the human body are sugar, fat and protein. When the human body is exercising, it needs to consume energy, and the source of this energy is the conversion of sugar, fat and protein. During an exercise, the first thing involved in energy supply is carbohydrates. Once the carbohydrates are consumed to a certain level, fat will become involved. As time goes on, protein will also become involved.

Oxidative decomposition. Under normal circumstances, protein generally does not convert into fat, and fat is generally converted from carbohydrates. In one case, when the body's energy supply is seriously insufficient or pathological, protein will be oxidized and decomposed into carbohydrates and fats, but this is a typical case of diabetes, and this is why diabetics are becoming increasingly thin. In special cases, excessive protein intake will also be converted into carbohydrates and fats for storage.

Fat and protein are both heat energy nutrients that can be converted into energy for the body to use. 1 gram of protein can release 4 calories, and 1 gram of fat can completely release 9 calories. Aerobic exercise can convert fat and protein into energy for the body to use. In fact, the main source of calories in the body is carbohydrates, followed by fat, and finally protein.

Exercise physiologists have found that when exercise reaches 60% of the maximum heart rate, the body consumes more fat than sugar (glycogen) or protein (muscle). But if the exercise intensity is higher, that is, above 75% of the maximum heart rate, the body will directly use fat, sugar and protein as energy sources. In other words, the harder you train, the more calories you burn.