Proteins are organic cells of the live matter : muscles, organs, liver, brain, bones, etc. Proteins contain the simplest components, called amino acids. Some of them are manufactured by the body. Most of them come from an external contribution, thru alimentation, in which proteins can have a double origin:
- Animal origin: large quantities are found in meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk;
- Vegetal origin: in soy, nuts, almonds, integral cereals and some vegetables.
The idea is to consume vegetable proteins, as well as animal proteins.
Proteins are indispensable for organism:
- For cellular structure construction,- For eventual source of energy, after transformation in glucose (KREBS cycle),- For certain hormones production,- For constitution of nucleic acids (necessary for reproduction).
A regime with a proteic deficit can have serious consequences on the body: muscle atrophy, skin depreciation, etc.Daily ratio of proteins should be about 60 grams for a child and 90 grams for a teenager.
For adults, the daily necessary should represent 1 gram/kilo, with a minimum of 55 grams /day for women and 70 grams/day for men.In other words, proteins contribution, for an adult, should represent, at least, 15% of the daily energetic contribution. If, the protein consumption is too much, and the physical activity insufficient, the proteic residues will persist in the body and they will transform into uric acid, a substance responsible for an illness called gout.Except for the egg, animal or vegetable proteins do not bring the necessary body amino acids.An alimentation based only on vegetal proteins is an unbalanced one, that leads to cystein deficiency that can cause hair and nails problems.
A balanced regime is a vegetarian regime that includes eggs and dairy.