This is a macronutrient that your body needs in order to function correctly. Proteins carry out a number of functions that help your body operate in an efficient manner. They assist with the growth and development of muscles, bones, hair, and skin. Protein also helps in forming antibodies, hormones, and other substances that your body is in need of. Protein can even serve as a fuel source for tissue and cells when it’s needed.
Proteins are large molecules that consist of amino acids which the structure and function of your body depends on. Without these your body won’t be able to properly regulate the function of your organs, tissue, or cells. Protein is also a neurotransmitter that is essential to life. Hemoglobin is a protein that is the carrier of oxygen in your blood. Protein is the thing that forms just about everything in life including bacteria, butterflies, jellyfish, viruses, and humans. Protein is like a machine that is programmed to do nothing but create life.
There are about 20 different kinds of amino acids which can be arranged in millions of different ways. These arrangements create millions of different proteins which each have a specific function in your body. These 20 amino acids include but are not limited to alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glutamine, glycine, histidine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, and valine. It’s cool to know what these amino acids are but you won’t need to remember them to be able to maintain a healthy diet. There are 3 types of protein you should try to remember though if you want to establish optimal health.
These three types of proteins are complete proteins, incomplete proteins, and complementary proteins. Complete proteins are commonly found in animal-based foods like meat, dairy, and eggs. These are known as complete proteins because they contain all essential amino acids. There are 9 separate kinds of essential amino acids and our body will not produce them on its own. Foods that provide your body with roughly an equal amount of these nine acids are complete proteins.
Incomplete proteins are generally plant based foods such as peas, beans, and grains. These proteins have a lack of balance since they don’t have all the essential amino acids but do have at least one of them. Complementary proteins are when you combine two incomplete proteins together in one meal. This includes combos like peanut butter and bread which is always yummy. It also includes rice and beans which isn’t going to be many peoples favourite dish in the world.
Proteins are an outrageously important nutrient that we need to have in our diets. Your body desperately needs protein to build, repair, replace, and strengthen things like tissue. Proteins come in many different forms like collagen which is practically the glue that holds your body together or hormones like insulin which instruct cells and tissue to act a certain way. Even most enzymes like amylase are proteins which are needed for things like respiration in human cells and photosynthesis in plants.
Always ensure that you’re providing your body with a sufficient amount of protein. Protein deficiencies tend to be rare but are concerning still especially if children are involved. Anorexia, certain genetic disorders, and late stages of cancer can all lead to protein deficiencies. It’s really difficult to specify exactly how much protein a specific body needs but consuming a healthy diet with variety will provide more than enough protein for most people.