Food 4 Life - Protein

Protein

• Protein is needed for growth and repair of body tissues and is also a source of energy.
• The building blocks for proteins are amino acids, of which there are 20 commonly found in proteins from plant and animal sources.
• Some amino acids can be made by the body. These are therefore said to be ‘non essential’ amino acids.  Others must be supplied in the diet, which are said to be 'essential' amino acids.
• If a protein contains essential amino acids in the proportion required by humans it is said to have a high biological value (HBV).
• If it is low in one or more of the essential amino acids it has a low biological value (LBV).
• Protein from animal sources generally have a higher biological value than proteins from plant sources.
• Protein sources from plant foods can be combined to complement each other and compensate for any lack of an essential amino acid.

Sources of Protein in the Diet

Foods of animal origin: Meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese

Foods of vegetable origin: Peas, beans, lentils, nuts, cereals

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