Download Identifying Macronutrients

Proteins
Principal funding provided by USDA’s Food Stamp
Program, an equal opportunity provider and employer,
helping limited income Californians buy more nutritious
foods for a healthier diet.
Proteins – a part of our diet
Carbohydrates (CHO)
Protein (PRO)
Fat
Protein
Your body is made of protein.
 Your body stores fat and carbohydrates
but does not store protein.
 Protein is made of amino acids, which
are like building blocks.

=
Amino Acids
Your body arranges amino acids to
build the different proteins it needs.
- Muscles
- Hair
- Nails
- Skin
- Hormones
- Cells
Amino Acids
There are 20 amino acids.
 It is easy for the body to make 10 of
these amino acids.
 Amino acids are made of similar
ingredients or elements: Carbon,
hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen
C
and sulfur.
H
C

N
o
N
o
N
H
C
o
s
C
H
C
H
C
o
O
N
N
N
Essential Amino Acids
Eight amino acids are essential for
humans. They are tryptophan, lysine,
methionine, phenylalanine,
threonine, valine, leucine, isoleucine.
 Two amino acids are essential for
children. They are alanine and
histadine.
 Your body can make the other 10
amino acids.

Essential Amino Acids




Phenylalanine is used to make an amino acid
called, tyrosine.
In a few cases, some people are missing or don’t
make enough of the enzyme to make tyrosine.
This inherited disorder is called phenylketonuria
or PKU
If it goes untreated, a person can suffer
retardation
Amino Acids
Body needs all eight essential AA
 Vegetarians must plan carefully to get
the essential amino acids

+
=
Complete
Protein
Protein
Functions
Helps build muscles, blood, skin,
hair, nails, and internal organs.
 Helps the body grow & repair itself
 Helps fight disease.

Too Much Protein...
may mean too much fat. Over a long
period, this can increase risk of

heart disease
 diabetes
 and some types of cancer.
Too Much Protein…
may cause calcium
loss.
No calcium in
the diet?
=
Too Much
Protein...



Means less carbohydrate intake to fuel
muscles.
Your brain and eyes need a minimum of
100 grams of carbohydrates per day to
work.
may overwork kidneys & lead to
poor kidney function.
Protein Sources
All foods made from
meat, poultry, fish, dry
beans or peas, eggs,
nuts, and seeds are
protein foods. Dry beans
and peas are part of this
group as well as the
vegetable group.
Protein Sources

Animal Sources:
(Complete Proteins)






Meat
Poultry
Fish
Eggs
Dairy Products
Plant Sources:
(Incomplete
Proteins)
 Dry
Beans
 Peas
 Nuts
 Tofu

Grain Products
Protein in the Diet
Protein is a part
of a healthy diet
 About 15 – 25%
of our calories
should come
from protein

Questions