Proteins, everything I need to know…

Proteins are made up of many building blocks called amino acids. Our bodies need the protein we eat to provide amino acids for the growth and maintenance of our cells and tissues. Protein intake must change throughout our lives. Plant and animal proteins vary in quality and digestibility, but this is generally not a problem for most people as long as full protein intake is needed. Our goal is to eat protein from a variety of sources that is good for our health and the planet.

What are proteins made of?

Proteins are made up of many different amino acids linked together. There are twenty different amino acids found in plants and animals. Like the alphabet, the “letters” of amino acids can be arranged in millions of different ways to form entire “words” and “languages” of proteins. Every animal, including humans, has its own proteins. Amino acids are classified as essential or non-essential amino acids. As the name suggests, the body cannot make essential amino acids, so they must come from our diet.

What do proteins do in the body?

Our body is made up of millions of different proteins, each with a specific function. The body’s proteins are constantly renewed and changed throughout our lives. Although some amino acids can be recycled from the breakdown of previous proteins in the body, this process is not perfect. This means that we need protein in our diet to meet our body’s amino acid needs.