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Proteins
The word proteins comes from the Greek word "Protas" which means "of primary importance".
Proteins are vital for muscle growth and repair, and also for hair, skin and internal organs. More specifically, every single chemical reaction that takes place in the body is dependent on proteins!
Proteins consist of chains of amino acids. For every protein, there are specific amino acids in a specific amount, and they are joined in a unique way. There are 22 different amino acids. Seven of these are called "essential amino acids" because they cannot be produced by the body and must be provided by food.
Protein foods can be classified in two ways;
complete that contain all the essential amino acids (eg: poultry, fish, dairy products and beans etc)
incomplete that contain a limited amount of amino acids (eg: nuts, seeds, vegetables etc)
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Medical professionals recommend that women consume about 45g of protein a day (more if pregnant, lactating or very active), while men need about 55g (more if very active).
In fact, protein should contribute 12-15% of total calories per day.
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