Proteins

Protein is any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, esp. as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies.

Proteins are stored in most dairy products such as beef, poultry, fish egg. Proteins builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body. Most of our body parts are made up of mostly proteins.

Our body uses proteins for many life-processes such as making hemoglobin and for movements and other essential processes.

When we eat foods that contain proteins, the digestive juices in our stomach breaks down proteins into smaller pieces called amino acids. These amino acids can reused to make the proteins your body needs to maintain muscles, bones, blood, and body organs.

Proteins are sometimes described as long necklaces with differently shaped beads. Each bead is a small amino acid. These amino acids can join together to make thousands of different proteins. Scientists have found many different amino acids in protein, but 22 of them are very important to human health.

Of those 22 amino acids, your body can make 13 of them without you ever thinking about it. Your body can't make the other nine amino acids, but you can get them by eating protein-rich foods. They are called essential amino acids because it's essential that you get them from the foods you eat.

Most proteins fold into unique 3-dimensional structures. The shape into which a protein naturally folds is known as its native conformation.

The best-known role of proteins in the cell is as enzymes, which catalyzes chemical reactions. Enzymes are usually highly specific and accelerate only one or a few chemical reactions. Enzymes carry out most of the reactions involved in metabolism , as well as manipulating DNA in processes such as DNA replication, DNA repair, and transcription. Some enzymes act on other proteins to add or remove chemical groups in a process known as post-translational modification. About 4,000 reactions are known to be catalyzed by enzymes. Enzymes can consist of hundred of amino-acids.

Different Kinds of Protein

Protein from animal sources, such as meat and milk, is called complete, because it contains all nine of the essential amino acids. Most vegetable protein is considered incomplete because it lacks one or more of the essential amino acids. This can be a concern for someone who doesn't eat meat or milk products. But people who eat a vegetarian diet can still get all their essential amino acids by eating a wide variety of protein-rich vegetable foods.

What does protein do everyday?

• Anti bodies which consist of protein are essential in helping our bodies fight and resist diseases.
• You use up protein in everyday living just to keep your body running smoothly.
• Everyday we lose protein in the form of hair, skin and nails.
• Protein is supplied to the body to help heal and repair injuries.
• For growing children protein is needed for growth of the entire body.
• If you have an operation protein is needed to help build your body back to fitness.