General Classifications For Food Protein, Fat, And...

There are 3 general classifications for food: protein, fat, and carbohydrate. This article is about protein. We ll talk about what it is, why you need it, how to get it, and how much you need in order to be healthy. Why We Need Protein Before we get into the details of what protein is, let s get motivated by appreciating what protein does. Our bodies use protein to build just about everything. Skin, hair, muscles, organs, even the hemoglobin in your blood is made of protein. And the list goes on: The enzymes that break down food and spark chemical reactions in the body are proteins. Our immune systems depend on protein to make antibodies. Protein molecules aid the transfer of messages between the neurotransmitters in our brains. And†¦show more content†¦When a single food provides all nine (yes, it used to be eight) essential amino acids it is called a complete protein. Ads Energy East Pipeline energyeastpipeline.com The benefits of Energy East will be felt across Canada. Learn how Many foods contain high levels of some amino acids and not others. In that case, foods have to be combined in order to provide all nine amino acids. When foods go together to create a complete protein profile they are called complimentary proteins. Sources of Protein Most people think of meat when they think of protein. And that s correct. Meat from land animals, fish, and fowl are all high protein foods. However, nuts, seeds, beans, and dairy products are high protein foods as well. And whole grains such as brown rice, whole wheat, quinoa, barley and amaranth; and some vegetables, like avocados and sprouts, can be significant sources of protein too. Meat, dairy and eggs are complete proteins. To get a complete protein, most grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables have to be combined. Rice and beans or corn and beans are famous examples of complimentary proteins. It is worth noting that you don t have to get all essential amino acids in one meal. Amino acids are not stored by the body but they do stay available long enough to be used and combined throughout a day. With so many sources of protein, eating a healthy, varied diet generally provides enough amino acids for the average person -- even if they