Fara 7 January 2009 Food Pyramid, General Health, Nutritions 232 views No Comment/Trackback Print This Post  Email This Post

(Rate!)

 Loading ...

The importance of protein: Protein functions and food sources

If protein were nothing close to important or more prominently, effective, there would not be dieting fads that focused more on protein more than other elements of the food pyramid. Although, most of the time, what is being advertised can be a little exaggerating and far from what could be true.

The word protein originates from a Greek word, which means ‘first importance’, and it well deserves its name.

Proteins are large complex molecules made up of amino acids and its structure contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Proteins are the body’s only source of nitrogen. During digestion, proteins are broken down and released into the bloodstream as amino acids. A single protein may contain as few as 23 amino acids and as many as several hundred thousand amino acid units linked together, depending on whether it is a complete or incomplete protein.

Complete protein: Proteins that contain all the essential amino acids in the proportions needed by the body. This type of protein has a high biologic value.

Incomplete protein: Proteins that contain only some of the essential amino acids and in limited amounts. This type of protein has a low biologic value.

As essential as it has been mentioned to be, there are many significant functions of protein. However, the main function of protein is actually for tissue maintenance and growth. That is somewhat the reason as to why mostly children are the ones who need it a lot – for the sake of good growth. Proteins are also needed for the formation of enzymes, antibodies, and hormones and other substances that regulate body process. Don’t be surprise to know that antibodies are actually proteins that assist the body in fighting infection and other toxic conditions. Hormones such as insulin, thyroxine, and epinephrine have vital regulatory functions that eventually require the help of protein since it functions to form regulatory compound.

Other functions of proteins are:

• It provides transportation mechanism within the body, especially by transporting other nutrients in the body, which is not transferable through water.
• Protein also assists in maintaining fluid balance in the body since it is able to regulate fluid balance in each cells.
• For sake of normality in terms of bodily function, it is important that blood to be maintained at a nearly neutral or slightly alkaline state. Certain food that we often eat promotes an increase of acidity in blood, where by proteins, due to their structure can serve as either acids or bases, according to body needs.
• It is also one of third sources of energy (beside carbohydrates and fats)

Therefore, if you’re thinking on growing taller and with better build, try switching to more protein base food with less fat. You’ll be needing protein more than just growing, dig out the best of protein to get all the benefits of protein and how it can help improve your body functions and stay healthy. As staying healthy is the main purpose of healthy eating plan.

 Related posts:

1. List of daily foods for protein and nutrient content
2. Dietary Fiber functions and food sources
3. The importance of fats: Type of fats and fats functions in general
4. Importance of carbohydrate: Carbohydrate groups and functions
5. Dietary minerals and its importance to health