Download John Torri Basic Nutrition Special Topic: Protein November 13 2014

John Torri
Basic Nutrition
Special Topic: Protein
November 13 2014
As we have learned from our Nutrition class, we need a daily intake of
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Most people don’t know how proteins are stored,
sources of proteins, or even how they work. I found an article that helps shed light
on this topic.
According to “Choosing Protein Wisely” Our bodies need proteins to build
strong bones, muscles, skin, and cells. Because we can’t store protein in our bodies
the way we can store carbohydrates, we need to make sure we eat enough protein
every day. Amino acids are the building blocks for protein. There are two types of
amino acids, essential, and non-essential. Essential amino acids are those that are
“essential” in the diet. In other words, our bodies cannot create them through our
own metabolism. The main essential amino acids are phenylalanine, valine,
theronine, tryphtophan, isoleucine, methionine, histidine, arginine, leucine, lysine.
We can only obtain these proteins from ingesting foods that contain them.
Good sources of protein include lean meats, soy, beans, nuts, and dairy. Lean
meats include chicken, turkey, fish, and beef that is 95 percent lean are still high in
protein but have less fat. Soy is also another exceptional source of protein because it
is rich in protein and low in saturated fats. Beans and nuts are also a great source of
protein. Beans are low in saturated fats, chickpeas, or garbanzo beans taste delicious
on salads. Nuts, when eaten moderately, are another good source of protein that is
not high in fat. Lastly dairy is an often overlooked as a good source of protein, but
definitely worth mentioning. Low fat dairies are much healthier than high saturated
fat dairy. Low fat Greek yogurt, and ricotta cheese have a great abundance of protein
but are also a quick and simple snack when you need a good source of protein on the
go.
This article shed light on a topic that most people don’t know much about but
definitely should! Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins; essential amino
acids need to be ingested from foods high in different types of proteins. Lean meats,
soy, beans, nuts, and dairy are all great sources of protein as long as they are low in
saturated fats. Knowing how to choose healthy proteins and understanding how
proteins work is crucial to maintaining a healthy diet.
Brichford, Connie. "Choosing Protein Wisely." EverydayHealth.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.