1. WHY ARE PROTEINS IMPORTANT? WHAT IS THEIR FUNCTION?

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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-

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

7. Why do we need proteins?
Build our body tissues

8. COMPLETE PROTEINS
LEAN MEATS
FISH
POULTRY
MILK
CHEESE
EGGS

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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