• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Biomanantial

Slimming, Beauty, Medicinal Plants

Main Navigation

Biomanantial

What would you like to find?
Browse by categories
  • Dietetics
    • Edible seaweed
    • Lose weight
    • Healthy Food
    • Diets
    • Syrup sap diet
    • Dietary
    • Vegetarian
    • Macrobiotic Food
  • Health
    • Pregnancy & Parenting
    • Fitoterapia
    • Herb teas
    • Manual therapy
    • Nature Centers
    • Alternative Therapies
    • Chinese Medicine
  • Beauty
    • Hair Care
    • Facial Care
    • Skin
    • Natural Cosmetics
    • Chest, Legs and Buttocks
  • Personal Development
    • Emotional Intelligence
    • Stress and Anxiety
    • Dating and Love
  • Organic Farming
    • Organic Nutrition
    • Natural Life
    • Environment
    • Transgenics
  • Sports nutrition
    • Burn Fat
    • Supplementation
    • Training and Exercises
  • Recipes & Cooking
    • Food Therapy
    • Seaweed Recipes
    • Soya recipes
    • Fruit recipes
    • Recipes with vegetables
    • Recipes with Grains
    • World Cuisine
  • Biomanantial from A to Z
  • All topics

Proteins are essential for life

Proteins are essential for life
  • Manifesto of the Platform for the Defense of Natural Health
  • What is Organic Agriculture?

Published: 11/25/2005 - Updated: 08/13/2019

Author: Dra. Loredana Lunadei4 Comments

The word protein comes from the Greek word "protos" meaning first. Proteins are essential for growth and repair, the functioning and structure of all living cells. Hormones such as insulin, control the level of blood sugar, enzymes such as amylases, lipases and proteases, are crucial for the digestion of food, the antibodies help fight infections, muscle proteins allow contraction, etc. Therefore, the proteins are indeed essential to life.

Contents

  • Amino acids, parts of a whole 
  • Cycle of proteins 
  • Protein Sources 
  • Vegetarian diets and intake of proteins
  • General recommendations 
  • References

Amino acids, parts of a whole 

The proteins are composed of amino acids, building blocks, which are linked together. A normal protein may contain 300 or more amino acids. Each protein has a number and a specific sequence of amino acids. The shape of the molecule is important because it usually determines the function of the protein. There are about twenty different amino acids that are commonly found in plants and animals.

Amino acids are classified as essential (essential amino acids that the body does not produce and must be obtained through diet) or non-essential (non-essential amino acids that the body can produce endogenously from other proteins). There are eight amino acids considered essential for adults: leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysine, and nine for children (the above plus histidine).

When a protein contains essential amino acids in the amount necessary for human beings, is said to have a high biological value. When one or more essential amino acids are present, but in insufficient quantities, it is said that this protein has a low biological value. The amino acid that is present in fewer than necessary is called "limiting amino acid."

Cycle of proteins 

Our body continually produces and removes protein. After eating, the proteins are broken down during digestion into amino acids, which are absorbed and used to produce other proteins in the body. A daily intake of adequate protein and energy ensures that this cycle continuing.

Protein Sources 

The proteins are found in various foods. The animal sources of protein such as meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt, provide proteins of high biological value. Plants such as legumes, cereals, nuts, seeds and vegetables provide little biological value protein. However, as is usually the limiting amino acid in different proteins from different plants, the combination of different plant sources in the same food (vegetables and cereals) is often a mixture of higher biological value. These combinations are often found in traditional recipes from every continent (for example, beans with rice, pasta and cassava, chick peas with bread and potatoes with lentils, etc.).

Omnivorous diets (with foods derived from animals and plants) in the developed world provide adequate amounts of protein. However, subgroups of the population who consume no animal products may have difficulty meeting their protein needs.

Vegetarian diets and intake of proteins

Vegetarian diets are based on cereals, vegetables, fruits, legumes, seeds and nuts, and the removal of meat and fish. Within vegetarian diets, there are variations, as some include dairy products and eggs, other dairy products but does not include eggs, whereas stricter vegetarian diets exclude all animal products. Subsistence crops, in particular, have no major source of protein of high biological value, so those who follow such diets may have difficulty meeting their protein needs, especially in case of additional requirements due to growth (children and pregnant). Therefore, in the case of plants, the combination of proteins from different plant sources and a balanced selection of foods are very important to ensure the necessary levels of essential amino acids.

  • Syrup sap
    MORE IN BIOMANANTIAL
    Syrup sap

General recommendations 

To maintain a normal renewal of the proteins needed for proper growth and repair of body tissues, 10-15% of our total intake of energy should come from protein.

References

1. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrates, Fiber, Fat, Protein and Amino Acids (Macronutrients) 2002. Chapter 10: Protein and Amino AcidsNational Academy of Sciences http://www.nap.edu
2. Reeds, P. Dispensable and Indispensable Amino Acids for Humans. J. Nutr. 130: 1835S – 1840S, 2000.
3. WHO, Diet, Nutrition and Prevention of Chronic Diseases, 2003

Source: EUFIC

1 estrella2 estrellas3 estrellas4 estrellas5 estrellas

(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

Loading...

About the author

By Dra. Loredana Lunadei

Dr. Loredana Lunadei is a specialist in food, dietetics and nutrition. She studied at the University of Milan where she obtained a Master in Food Science and Technology. Subsequently, she continued her studies, completing her PhD also at the University of Milan. Linkedin.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie policy

Reader Interactions

You may also be interested

  • Phytomedicine: Past and Present Phytomedicine: Past and Present Since ancient times, man had to learn to dress, eat and heal. For this, it [...]
  • Burn fat Burn fat Accumulation of fat is very common in our society. It is not easy to burn [...]
  • Yerba Mate: Preparation, Properties and more Yerba Mate: Preparation, Properties and more Mate is a drink similar to tea and is consumed mainly in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay [...]

You are here: Biomanantial » Sports nutrition » Proteins are essential for life

All about Sports nutrition

  • Principles of sports nutrition for vegetarians Principles of sports nutrition for vegetarians Best food, better performance food for competing Active individuals often wonder why, and even if you [...]
  • Nutrition for sport Nutrition for sport In any competition for talented athletes, fitness and motivation, the difference between victory and defeat [...]
  • Physical Activity Physical Activity In the struggle for weight control and general good health, much importance is given to [...]
  • Use it or lose it - Reasons to stay active Use it or lose it - Reasons to stay active Diseases have nothing to do with the natural processes of aging. Accumulation of long-term lifestyle and [...]
  • In the diet of the athlete, not only pasta In the diet of the athlete, not only pasta Brown rice, no white rice, potatoes and vegetables can be perfect substitutes for pasta on [...]
Comments
  1. Karen

    9 de March de 2014 at 20:26

    It is important to understand that, If you are following a vegetarian diet you must meet all the requirements of the body because it is a little difficult, but having this diet doesn?t mean that you cannot improve your body mass or things like that you just have to combine adequately, and consult a doctor first

    Reply
  2. Calvin

    1 de June de 2014 at 21:17

    that’s how a PROTEIN looks like? amazing, I would like to see the things through a microscope, that woul be amazing…

    and by the way, good article about its importance, we already knew it but not the why, so thanks

    Reply
  3. Nicole

    13 de June de 2014 at 14:24

    Proteins MUST be part of our DAILY diet. This rule is not as widespread as it should, people are still not aware of the fact that proteins allow cell regeneration and almost every reaction in our bodies. Furthermore, this is particularly important for vegetarians and vegans who primarily avoid food rich in proteins.

    Reply
  4. Stacy

    31 de October de 2014 at 07:07

    I am really glad to see that you have highlighted the misguided belief that meat sources are not the ONLY sources of protein. In fact, there are a lot of vegetables that offer even MORE proteins than animal products, without hte added hormones or fats. I am nearly vegan and have been a serious athlete for several years. Building muscle has never been a problem for me.

    Reply
Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

   4See comments  

Copyright © 2023 · Biomanantial
   
Disclaimer  About Us  Cookies Policy  Privacy policy  Contact  Topics
RIVAS INTERNET S.L. CIF: ESB86492501 Travesía Fortuny, 2. 28300 Aranjuez. Spain.
The services, content and products on our website are for informational purposes only. Biomanantial does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment