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The importance of Proteins
Proteins are the body’s building blocks. Without them you would not be able to replace or repair the cells in your body. An ordinary man, weighing 70 kg contains around 11 kg of protein. Around half of this is found in the muscles of the skeleton.
Why do you need proteins?
Proteins have many important functions in your body. They are the main component of structural tissues such as collagen and skin, they are found in conjunctive tissues such as tendons and ligaments. Blood needs proteins for the red blood cells, white blood cells and many components of the plasma. The body’s immunity system depends on proteins, which are necessary for the formation of antibodies that fight illnesses. Enzymes and hormones (for example, insulin) are also proteins.
Where do we find proteins?
Proteins can be found in animal products such as: meat, fish, eggs, milk and dairy products, as well as vegetable foods such as: cereals, grains and seeds. All sources of protein contain some of the essential amino acids, but in varying quantities. Some foods, such as, for example, milk and eggs, contain almost the ideal mixture of amino acids, generally with one amino acid missing or present in inadequate quantities. It is important to consume the ideal mixture of protein sources to guarantee that you have a sufficient supply of all the essential amino acids.
Source: www.lincx.com.br
| Sources of Protein |
| Meat, fish and dairy products are good sources of protein.
Vegetable sources include cereals and grains. The foods in the table below contain roughly 6 (six) grams of protein. |
| 200ml of whole milk |
½ a standard sized egg |
| 2 soup spoons of soy (PTS) |
20g of red meat |
| 25g of chicken |
25g de curd cheese (queijo coalho) |
Source: Chemical Composition of Food Table – Guilherme Franco-1999
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