WHY ARE PROTEINS IMPORTANT? WHAT IS THEIR FUNCTION?

PROTEIN PROTEINS ARE CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS FOUND IN EVERY BODY CELL MADE UP OF SMALL UNITS CALLED AMINO ACIDS THERE ARE 20 AMINO ACIDS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE BODY

WHY ARE PROTEINS IMPORTANT? GROW, MAINTAIN AND REPAIR BODY TISSUE – SKIN CELLS, HAIR, EYES, TEETH, MUSCLES, BONES BODY PROTEINS CONSTANTLY MUST BE REPLACED NEED A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY

HOW MUCH? PROTEIN 1 GRAM = 4 CALORIES AVERAGE – 15% OF DAILY FOOD CALORIES FROM PROTEIN TEENS MAY NEED MORE

AMINO ACIDS 20 AMINO ACIDS ARE IMPORTANT TO THE BODY 9 OF THESE ARE CALLED ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS – BODY CAN’T MAKE THEM FAST ENOUGH THE 9 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS MUST COME FROM FOOD 11 AMINO ACIDS MADE BY BODY-

CATEGORIES PROTEINS FIT INTO 2 CATEGORIES COMPLETE PROTEINS – CONTAIN ALL 9 ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS INCOMPLETE PROTEINS – MISSING ONE OR MORE OF ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

Why do we need proteins? Build our body tissues

COMPLETE PROTEINS LEAN MEATS FISH POULTRY MILK CHEESE EGGS

INCOMPLETE PROTEINS NUTS SEEDS BEANS PEAS EAT WITH A GRAIN TO GET ALL THE AMINO ACIDS – EXAMPLES: PEANUT BUTTER WITH BREAD RED BEANS AND RICE

PROTEIN IN OUR DIET UNLIKELY THAT AMERICANS HAVE PROTEIN DEFICIENCY MOST AMERICAN GET PROTEIN FROM ANIMAL SOURCES – MEATS, CHEESE, DAIRY RECOMMENDED THAT WE EAT MORE PLANT PROTEINS – LOWER IN FAT AND COST LESS

Protein Deficiencies Symptoms of not having enough protein: Fatigue Weight Loss Stunted growth Deficiencies most common in third world countries In U.S., deficiencies often caused by drug addiction and eating disorders