Proteins
Did you know that our bodies- the human body cannot make up its own nutrients? We get them from the food we eat. Or we take them in the form of tablets or chewables from commercially available products like Centrum (known to be complete from A to Zinc). Or vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system.
Proteins, specifically, we can get proteins from foods like meat, dairy products and whole grains. Protein is a macronutrient, meaning that the body needs relatively large amounts of protein to perform and function properly. Yet, the human body is not capable to make its own proteins. Which is true. So we eat proteins, but our bodies still need to break down the proteins into simpler molecules.
Why? The proteins that come from food are not proteins that the body can use directly. So they are made into smaller compounds and are later synthesized inside the body. The proteins are broken down into amino acids and are rearranged to become the proteins that will help the body grow and repair itself.
Proteins are made up of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. The basic structure of amino acids is that it contains an amine group (NH2) and a carboxyl group (COOH), which is an acid –thus the name amine-o acid. Amino acids also contain an R (the variable group) which makes each amino acid different from each other. As of today, there are 20 identified amino acids in the human body.
Long chains of one or more of these amino acids become proteins. Proteins make up 50% of the organic material of a cell. Proteins primarily contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen, some contain sulphur as well. They have a wide range of functions in the body. They are used for structural reasons, such as collagen which is used in skin, and as keratin, which is found in nails; Proteins can function as antibodies that help protect the body from foreign invaders. Some proteins function as messenger proteins to transmit signals that coordinate biological processes.
Other proteins function as transport or storage, which bind and carry atoms and small molecules within cells and throughout the body.The protein in red blood cells –hemoglobin; protein in muscle cells — myoglobin and the lipoprotein play a role in the transport of oxygen and other substances in the body.
Protein is important in the development of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. Proteins in cells of the skin, hair, cartilage and muscles provide structure and protect the body. Without protein, our body cannot repair muscle after exercise and develop red blood cells which help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
When you get injured, healing requires an increased number of both micro and macronutrients. If there is a deficiency in any of the two, it could lead to slow tissue maturation, which leads to delaying of healing or it could affect the physiological process to repair damaged tissue.
