Health and Fitness Information CenterProteinMuch has been said about protein in our diets - that we need it (as of course we do), that athletes should load up on it, that not all proteins are created equal, that we eat too much protein and should therefore cut down our consumption of meat and dairy products and fall back on fruits and vegetables to maintain ourselves.
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How much protein do we need to be healthy?
While plants and some bacteria can manufacture all the amino acids they need, the human body can manufacture only thirteen. The amino acids we can make are known, somewhat confusingly, as the "nonessential" amino acids. They are in fact essential, but not as part of our diet. The nine "essential" amino acids are those we have to eat. We can either get them from plant protein directly or by eating animals that consume plants and animals. |
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When we eat foods containing protein, the digestive system breaks it down to the constituent amino acids, which enter the body "pool" of amino acids. Each cell then assembles the proteins it needs using the building blocks available. If, however, one or more of the needed amino acids is in short supply or not available at all, others that may be on hand cannot be utilized to form a protein. This is why it is important to eat a diet that contains all of the essential amino acids plus enough additional amino acids to allow for synthesis of the "nonessential" amino acids.
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Proteins are constantly being broken down in our bodies. Most of the amino acids are reused, but we must continually replace some of those that are lost. This process is known as protein turnover. Our need to keep this process going begins at conception and last throughout life. Without dietary protein, growth and all bodily functions would not take place.