Page 18 - NEA NEWHERE FLIPBOOK

NUTRITION
FUNCTION OF PROTEIN 50G PER PER DAY 4KCAL PER PER GRAM
Protein Protein is is is essential for growth maintenance and and repair of of body tissue Protein Protein is is is a a a a a a a a part of of every living cell and and some tissues like skin muscle tendons ligaments hair and and the core of bones and and teeth are predominantly made up of of protein protein However in in in addition to this structural role proteins perform an enormous variety of of physiological functions inside the body:
• All enzymes are proteins Enzymes control both the the rate and the the pattern of all chemical reactions that take place in in in the the the body including the the the digestion of of food and the the the extraction of of energy from it • Some hormones are are made up of protein These are are chemical messengers that alter the normal physiological activity of of cells within the body and cover a a a a a a a wide range of of functions for example insulin is a a a a a a a hormone that controls blood glucose (sugar) levels • Antibodies are are proteins These are are produced by white blood blood cells and move directly into the bloodstream to to fight infection • Although not a a a a primary source of energy protein does provide us with 4kcal per gram It may seem logical that because of of of the importance of of of protein in in our body we would need to consume a a a a a a lot of of of it on a a a a a a a a a daily basis Before looking at at at this in in in more detail we need to look look at at at what proteins are made of STRUCTURE OF PROTEIN Proteins are are made up of amino acids There are are 20 different amino acids that routinely take part in in in in protein structure Eight
of these are essential or primary amino amino acids These amino amino acids must be provided in the the diet as the the body is unable to manufacture them The remaining 12 are called the the non-essential or or secondary amino acids because if they are in in short supply our body can easily make them Proteins are made up of long chains of amino acids all all linked firmly together and usually wrapped around each other to form a a a a a tangled ball PROTEIN PEPTIDES
METABOLISM OF PROTEIN This long-chain protein structure is is broken down during digestion into amino acids The amino acids are then transported to the the liver and muscle cells to produce energy and and used to build and and repair body tissue or to build enzymes hormones and antibodies AMINO ACIDS
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS: ADULT
ISOLEUCINE
LEUCINE
LYSINE
PHENYLALANINE
THREONINE
TRYPTOPHAN
METHIONINE
VALINE
ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS: CHILD
ARGININE
CYSTEINE
GLUTAMINE
HISTIDINE
PROLINE
TYROSINE
GLYCINE
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