Proteins are essential
nutrients required by the body for growth, maintenance and repair. They can be
said as the building blocks of the body. The proteins are found all over the
body.
The proteins are broken down
into amino acids by the process of digestion. There are 22 amino-acids which can
be grouped as essential and non essential amino acids. The non essential amino-acids are those that can be produced by the body. The essential amino-acids are those that cannot be produced by the body. They are obtained through food
sources.
The food sources that have nine
essential amino-acids are called complete proteins. The proteins that are
incomplete usually lacks in one or two of the essential amino acids.
The main functions of
proteins are fighting diseases, building and repairing body tissues, producing
enzymes, hormone production, maintenance of skin, hair and nails and
transporting oxygen throughout the body. The other functions include producing
antibodies, maintenance of fluid balance and acid base balance in the body.
The symptoms that indicate a
need for high protein foods include muscle wasting, weight loss, fatigue,
frequent infections, weakness and fatigue, fluid retention, slow growth and
development in children. The other protein deficiency symptoms include skin
rashes, hair loss and difficulty in sleeping, nausea, headache, crankiness, moodiness,
depression, anxiety and lack of energy.
The protein deficiency may
lead to gall stones, arthritis, heart problems, muscle deterioration, organ
failure and finally death. To avoid all these include turkey, tuna, shrimp, cod
and venison in your diet they are excellent sources of protein. Snapper,
halibut, salmon, chicken, lamb, sardines, beef, spinach, tofu, soya bean and
cheese are very good sources of protein. Eat healthy and be healthy.
Take care,
Swarnam
