 You need all amino acids for good health. Your body can synthesize 11 of the amino acids  The other 9 amino acids your body can’t make, so its called essential amino acids  50% muscle, 20% bone, 10% skin and 20% blood, glands, and nerve tissue are where the body protein can be found.

 When you eat a protein food, stomach acids denature the proteins. This makes it easier for enzymes in the stomach to begin breaking down large protein molecules into smaller pieces.  As the protein pieces move into the small intestine, other enzymes break down into single amino acids. Then the amino acids are absorbed into the bloodstream.  After the blood it then carries amino acids to body cells that need them.

 Your cells can use amino acids from food proteins to build new proteins  Cells can also convert amino acids to other compounds  Proteins build by cells are custom designed to perform a wide variety of functions in the body.

 Build and maintain body tissue  Make important compounds  Regulate mineral and fluid balance  Maintain acid-base balance  Carry vital substances  Provide energy

 Protein is a necessary part of every cell and to form structure you need  As the body grows, it uses protein to help make new tissues.  18-20% of your body makes up protein.  3% is broken down everyday. You also need protein to maintain existing tissues and making new cells. Also to build lean muscle mass  Meet your protein needs for normal growth before you build muscles.

 Your body uses protein to make compounds such as enzymes, which cause specific chemical reactions in the body. Digestive enzymes cause a chemical break down of carbs, fats, and proteins.  Proteins are also used to make some hormones.  Immune system uses protein to make antibodies, or proteins that defend the body against infection and disease.

 Proteins carry minerals, sodium and potassium from one side of cell walls to the other  These minerals and other proteins control flow of water through cell membrane  The balance is needed for normal functioning of heart, lung, brain, and every other cell

 Proteins help maintain acid-base balance of the blood  Acid-base balance refers to the maintenance of the correct level of acidity of a blood fluid  If the blood becomes acidic, it can result in a life threatening condition  Protein in blood act as chemical buffers  Buffer-compound that can counteract an excess of acid or base fluid

 Proteins linked with fats form lipoproteins.  Proteins transport iron and other nutrients.  Oxygen transports in blood depending on the presence of protein.  Health will suffer if proteins aren’t available to carry vital substances to needed points throughout the body.

 Only protein can perform critical functions of cell growth and repair.  The number one priority is to provide the cells with the energy they need to exist.  Protein can be converted to glucose, which can be used as fuel. When protein is used to provide energy it cannot be used for other purposes.  The body also uses proteins as an energy when there is an excess of protein in the diet.

 With all the nutrients you need to consume enough protein, but should avoid getting to much lack of protein and a surplus of protein causes health problems.  Protein is the only energy nutrient that provides nitrogen. Nitrogen balance is used to evaluate a persons protein status.  Somebody who is building new tissue takes more protein than he/she excretes. Some ones who’s tissues are deteriorating would be losing more nitrogen than he/she consumes.

 A person whose body is wasting due to starvation would be in negative nitrogen balance.  A large portion of the U.S. population protein is easy to get in amounts that exceed daily recommendation.

 Symptoms of PEM are diarrhea and various nutrient deficiencies.  There are two forms of PEM  Kwashiorkor  Marasmus  Kwashiorkor is caused mostly in poor countries where mothers stop breast feeding an older child to begin breast feeding a new born. (common)  A child suffering from kwashiorkor doesn’t reach his/her full growth. Lack of protein affects body’s fluid balance and immune system also.

 The children become weak, thin, susceptible, in disease and infection  On average women in U.S. eat almost 1 ½ times RDA for protein. Men twice as much.

 Animal flesh › Largest source of protein in meat eating cultures › Beef, veal, pork, lamb, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy › Citizens on average eat 200 pounds of meat, poultry, and seafood annually › Meat is high in fat › Cost of protein in animal products is high

 Plant Proteins › Soybeans are a rich source of plant protein › Tofu, made from soybeans, is a meat alternative in some dishes. › Vegetarianism is the practice of eating a diet consisting entirely or largely of plant foods. › (Mainly fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds) some eat dairy products and eggs › Vegetarianism, especially in young people, seems to be increasing. › Plant food contains no cholesterol, high in fiber, and low in saturated fat. Positive factors for heart health and cancer risk reduction.

 Vegetarian reasons › Grew up vegetarian › Religious reasons (Buddhists and Hindus) › Health reasons (avoid fat, certain hormones, illness concerns) › Socioeconomic (eating animals is wasteful, food used to feed animals could feed more people than the animal can) › Environmental (animal grazing is hard on the land) › Humanitarian (sacrificing the life of an animal for food is wrong) Types of Vegetarians › Vegans-No animal products at all › Lacto-vegetarians-Dairy › Lacto-ovo vegetarians -Dairy and eggs › Semi-vegetarians -Little or no red meat(eats dairy, poultry, eggs, fish)

 Animal foods are sources of complete protein. (High quality)  Complete Protein - all essential amino acids are in the proteins  Meat, poultry, fish, milk, eggs, cheese and yogurt are high quality  Plant foods are incomplete proteins. (Lower quality)

 High protein diet produces an over abundance of nitrogen waste.  Before it builds up to toxic levels the body must excrete the waste.  Liver turns into urea  Excess protein creates extra work for liver and kidneys  If you have stress on the organs it can be a problem and may cause them to age prematurely.

 High diet in protein from animal sources may contribute to loss of calcium in bones, can lead to number of health problems.  If low in calcium your at risk.

 Whole milk, beef, cheese, peanut butter are high fat foods  Extra calories from fat can contribute to weight problems.  The body cant store excess amino acids as a protein source, but can store them as an energy source by converting them to body fat  Excess body fat is associated with number of health problems.

 Nonessential amino acids- amino acids your body can make  Antibodies- proteins that defend the body against infection and disease  Acid base balance- refers to the maintenance of the correct level of acidity of a body fluid  Buffer- it’s a compound that can counteract an excess of acid or base in a fluid

 Lipoproteins- compounds used to carry fats in blood stream  Nitrogen balance- a comparison of the nitrogen a person consumes with the nitrogen he/she excretes  Nitrogen equilibrium- excrete the same amount of nitrogen they take in each day  Deficiency- amount of a nutrient less than the body needs for optimum health  Deficiency disease- sickness caused by lack of an essential nutrient

 Protein-energy malnutrition- condition caused by a lack of calories and proteins in the diet  Kwashiorkor- protein deficiency disease frequently strikes a child when next sibling is born  Marasmus- wasting disease caused by lack of calories and protein. Mostly in infants  Legumes- are plants that have a special ability to capture nitrogen from the air and transfer it to its seeds. (Peanuts, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, lentils, chickpeas, lima beans)

 Vegetarianism- practice of eating a diet consisting entirely or largely of plant foods  Complete protein- all essential amino acids are in the proteins  Incomplete protein- missing or short in one or more of the essential amino acids  Complementary proteins- two or more incomplete proteins that can be combined to provide essential amino acids