What is protein and why is it important?

A lot of people talk about eating enough protein or sources of protein, but does everyone understand why protein is important? Protein is one of the 3 macronutrients we consume, which means it provides energy for us. Protein provides as much energy as carbohydrates, and less than fats. 

Protein is made up of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids, 11 are found in our bodies and 9 of them our bodies do not make so we need to consume them from our diet. Animal products such as meat and dairy provide all 20 amino acids, these are considered “complete” proteins. If you prefer plant based foods, combining 2 or more “incomplete” proteins such as rice and beans will provide all of the amino acids you need. Unlike carbohydrates and fats, protein is not stored in the body for very long and is converted into smaller carbohydrates or fats for storage in the body. This is why it is important to avoid overconsumption of proteins. 

There are certain populations that require higher levels of protein intake such as athletes, pregnant women, growing children, or those healing from illness or injury. This is because in addition to being an energy source for us, proteins in our body have many different functions such as cell repair. For example, there is a protein in the body called an osteoblast, which builds new bone, and another called an osteoclast which breaks down bone. Our DNA provides the instructions for building the proteins in our body for these various functions. Our chromosomes are made up of DNA and proteins which are then stored in the nucleus of our cells!