Why is protein intake so important?

We are constantly talking about the importance of protein intake, so in one place we summarize all the most important about proteins so when someone asks you what proteins are, you know how to educate and share knowledge!

Protein, what is it?

Proteins are one of the three basic macronutrients along with carbohydrates and fats. We find them in larger quantities in foods such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese, nuts, etc.

The “powder” most susceptible to when someone says protein is the whey protein isolate – a useful thing, but it should not be confused with the term protein.

We’re made of protein.

Proteins in the first line have a building role in the body. So, we are made of proteins, so it’s no wonder that we need them for growth and recovery, so we constantly recall them and emphasize that they should be the basis of every meal.

What are bricks at house, that are proteins in our body. Apart from building up, proteins also have a regulatory function – some hormones are actually proteins.

What are proteins build of?

They are made of amino acids that are linked to long chains. Our digestive system breaks down the protein that we eat into the amino acids and then the body uses these amino acids to synthesize our own proteins (muscle tissue, hormones, etc.)

So basically, we do not need protein, but amino acids. Amino acids are divided into essential (essential food) and non essential (the body can synthesize from other amino acids).

Essential amino acids

These are the amino acids that need to be taken through food because the body can not synthesize it and are necessary for functioning.

• Histidine (H)
• Isoleucine (I)
• Leucine (L)
• Lysine (K)
• Methionine (M)
• Phenylalanine (F)
• Threonine (T)
• Tryptophan (W)
• Valine (V)
  

Non-essential amino acids

These are the amino acids that the body can synthesize from other amino acids.

• Arginine (R)
• Aspartic acid (D)
• Cysteine (C)
• Glutamic acid (E)
• Glutamine (Q)
• Glycine (G)
• Proline (P)
• Serine (S)
• TWyrosine (Y)
• Asparagine (N)
• Selenocysteine (U)
• Pyrrolysine (O)

What have we learned today?

• proteins are one of three basic macronutrients
• our body doesn’t need proteins but amino acids
• we need to take essential aminoacids trough food

Original article: https://people2people.hr/index.php/blog/donatov-blog/63-proteini-sto-su-zasto-ih-trebamo-razlike-izmedu-biljnih-i-zivotinjskih
Author of the original article: Donat Rupčić from Powerbuilding.hr
Photo: https://neuben.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/protein-945×580.jpg

This post is also available in: Croatian