Contents:
- Medical Video: Why Is Protein Important?
- What is the function of protein?
- Where can these nutrients be obtained?
- Animal food source
- Vegetable food source
- What happens when the body lacks protein?
- 1. Hair, skin and nails are easily brittle
- 2. Easy to get sick
- 3. It's easier to get hungry
- 4. Edema occurs
- 5. Easy to get sick and recover from wounds
Medical Video: Why Is Protein Important?
Protein is one of the nutrients needed for metabolism and body health. This one nutrient can be obtained from food, both from animal or vegetable sources (derived from plants). If this nutrient deficiency, the body becomes easily sick. What is the function of this substance? And from what foods can this one nutrient be obtained?
What is the function of protein?
This nutrient serves to build cells and tissues in the body. In addition, these nutrients play a role in enhancing the immune system, repairing damaged cells, and in various body parts, such as skin, bones, muscles, and hair.
This nutrient is also responsible for producing enzymes and hormones that are used to maintain the body's function to stay healthy and not easily hurt.
When these nutrients enter the body, they will be digested and broken down into amino acids. Actually, amino acids can be produced by the body without the need for food to enter. Amino acids produced by the body are called non-essential amino acids. So, why do humans still have to eat foods that contain protein?
Although it can produce its own amino acids, the body also needs other types of amino acids that the body cannot produce. This amino acid is called an essential amino acid. Where do essential amino acids come from? From consumption of foods containing animal and vegetable protein.
Where can these nutrients be obtained?
Animal food source
Amino acids contained in animal protein are essential amino acids that are complete, and the structure is almost similar to the amino acids in the body. Meanwhile, foods containing vegetable protein do not have essential amino acids as complete as amino acids from animal protein. That is why better absorption values of amino acids are those derived from animal food sources. What are the foods from animal sources that you eat well?
1. Chicken eggs
Eggs are one of the animal food sources that contain vitamin, minerals, healthy fat, antioxidant. One chicken egg contains 6 grams of protein and 78 calories.
2. Lean chicken and beef
Chicken breast is very easy to cook, provided you are able to cook it properly. Protein content contained in 1 skinless chicken breast of 53 grams and beef 22.
3. Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is a type of cheese made from cow's milk and tends to be very low in fat and calories. This cheese contains calcium, Phosphor, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin B2 and various other nutrients. A cup of cottage cheese with 2% fat guts 27 grams of protein and 194 calories.
4 Yogurt and milk
Yogurt and milk are foods that taste delicious, have a soft texture, and are rich in nutrients. 170 grams of yogurt contains 17 grams of protein and 100 calories. While a cup of milk with 1 percent fat contains 8 grams of protein.
5. Tuna
Tuna has low fat and calories so it is good for consumption. Like other fish, tuna contains nutrients that are rich omega-3 fats. In 1 ounce of tuna fish contains 30 grams of protein and 157 calories.
Vegetable food source
Not inferior to food sources obtained from animals, sources of protein from plants such as soybeans, kidney beans, and various other nuts are also considered capable of reducing the risk of getting diseases type 2 diabetes mellitus, maintain weight, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Can you get these nutrients?
1. Almonds
Almonds are one of the most popular types of beans because they contain important nutrients including fiber, vitamin E, manganese and magnesium. Protein levels in almonds are 6 grams per 1 ounce.
2. Wheat
Wheat is also one of the healthiest foods because many contain good fiber, magnesium, manganese, vitamin B1 and several other nutrients. The protein content contained in raw wheat is 13 grams and 303 calories.
3. Lentils
Lentils are one source of nutritious food that each cup contains 18 grams of protein, giving an intake of 230 calories. In addition, lentils are a good source of fiber and minerals such as iron, phosphorus, thiamin, and folate.
4. Broccoli
Broccoli is a vegetable that contains 2.8 grams of protein in each cup. In addition, broccoli is rich in vitamins C and K which can reduce the risk of cancer.
What happens when the body lacks protein?
As explained above, this macronutrient has many benefits for the body. If the body is deficient in this substance, it will become sick easily. Here are some things that can happen:
1. Hair, skin and nails are easily brittle
This nutrient plays a role in maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. That is why, lack of these nutrients can cause dry skin problems, dull and easily broken nails, changes in hair texture, to more easily fall hair.
2. Easy to get sick
White blood cells are responsible for protecting the body's immune system. When the body lacks protein, white blood cell production will also decrease. As a result the body will be more susceptible to illness due to infection with germs and viruses carrying disease.
3. It's easier to get hungry
When protein intake is insufficient, you are more likely to feel hungry. Hungry is the body's natural instinct to remind you to fulfill nutritional intake. Easily hungry, in the end, often not realized can trigger obesity.
4. Edema occurs
Edema is a buildup of fluid in the tissues and body cavities so that swelling occurs. This happens because proteins that should help regulate and maintain fluid balance in the body are not available. This swelling often occurs in the abdomen, hands, ankles and feet.
5. Easy to get sick and recover from wounds
Reporting from Women's Health, Dr. Blantner states that protein is needed to build all the compounds in the immune system. Therefore, if the number of nutrients is insufficient, the body becomes weak to fight foreign substances and susceptible to viruses or bacteria. An example is flu.
This lack of substances will also reduce the number of new white blood cells. When a wound occurs, the body needs these nutrients to heal and rebuild damaged cells, tissues, and new skin. This lack of substance will make the wound longer to heal.
