Plant and animal proteins in the diet
Protein is one of the most discussed topics in sports nutrition, and with good reason. It is the second most common molecule in fat-free tissues of the body (water is the most common). Plant and animal proteins in the diet.
It plays a key role in recovery after physical exertion and is involved in almost all functions and processes of the body. Proteins are responsible for many functions throughout the body, including acid–base balance, energy production, cell signaling, and nutrient transport. For these and many other reasons, protein is an important dietary nutrient for a healthy lifestyle.
When protein enters the body, it is broken down into “bricks” called amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids in total, 9 of which are essential. This means that the body cannot synthesize them on its own, unlike the other 11, which it produces independently. Therefore, we must definitely get 9 amino acids from food.
When we talk about protein, we conditionally divide it into animal and vegetable. Animal protein is considered complete. This means that each unit of animal product contains a complete set of amino acids. For example, a piece of meat, egg or fish has all the amino acids in approximately equal proportions. In fact, vegetable protein differs from animal protein by the difference in the proportions of amino acids.
