Protein is the most abundant kind of molecule found in the body after water. Protein is one of the most important macronutrient and an important part of our diet. Protein is found all over our body—in the muscle, bone, skin, hair, and virtually every other body part or tissue.
At least 10,000 different proteins make you what you are and keep you that way. Lately Proteins are in news in India, as we are realising that our diet lacks protein. This is contrary to the popular belief among most of the Indians as the levels of food adequacy have increased a lot. Most of the people eat sufficient calories today and are well fed.
Proteins are polymer chains made of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. Proteins are large biomolecules or macromolecules and performs a vast array of functions within living organisms.
During human digestion, proteins are broken down in the stomach to smaller polypeptide chains called Amino Acid. Therefore Proteins are particularly important for amino acids that cannot be biosynthesized by the body.
Proteins are essential nutrients for the human body as they are one of the key building block. Proteins are critical for every living organism and participate in virtually every process within the cell. It is the nutrient required by the human body for growth and maintenance. In the form of Amino Acid Protein participates in the following functions:
Our bodies make amino acids in two different ways: Either from scratch, or by modifying others. A few amino acids (known as the essential amino acids) must come from food. The primary animal sources of protein are meat, dairy, fish and eggs. Vegetarian sources of protein are whole grains, pulses, legumes, soy, and nuts. It is important to note that
Therefore if you are vegetarian (36% of Indians are vegetarian), you need to be aware of the deficiency you may have and intake of Protein Supplement could be essential for you.
People who don’t eat meat, fish, poultry, eggs, or dairy products need to eat a variety of protein-containing foods each day in order to get all the amino acids needed to make new protein.
Amino acids are primarily formed due to metabolism of protein rich food in the body. Some proteins can be synthesised by human body and are not essential, however some can be obtained only from diet.
Amino acids which must be obtained from diet are called Essential Amino Acid. Out of 22 known Amino Acid, nine are known essential amino acids, which humans must obtain from their diet to prevent protein-energy malnutrition are:
The other five Amino Acid, which our body can produce are:
There are a few Amino Acid essential during certain physiological situation are:
If you are eating a healthy diet full of all types of macro-micronutrient with requisite amount of protein, you would rarely need protein supplements. Healthy people eating a balanced diet rarely need protein supplements.Except for a few amino acids, most are readily available in human diet. However one may need protein supplements if:
Protein supplements comes in the following forms:
Best quality Protein supplement are: