Protein Supplements

Our body needs eight essential amino acids that can only be obtained from protein supplements

Protein is essential for our growth and development. It provides the body with energy and is needed to manufacture hormones, antibodies, enzymes, and tissues such as muscle. When a protein is consumed through the diet, the body breaks it down into amino acids, which are the building blocks of all proteins. Some of these amino acids are called essential, which means that the body cannot synthesise them from dietary protein, and that they must be obtained through food.

The rest, and the majority of the amino acids are called non-essential, meaning that the body can manufacture them from other proteins consumed as food, and must not be obtain directly through diet.

Whenever the body makes a protein — a muscle for example — it needs a variety of amino acids for the task. These amino acids may come from dietary protein or from the body’s own pool of amino acids. If a shortage of amino acids becomes chronic, which can occur if the diet is deficient in essential amino acids, the building of protein in the body stops, and the body suffers accordingly.

Incomplete Proteins
They contain only some of the essential amino acids. These proteins are mainly found in grains, legumes, and leafy green vegetables.

Sources of Amino Acids
Although it is important to consume a full range of amino acids, both essential and non-essential, it is not necessary to get them from meat, fish, poultry, and other complete-protein foods.

For instance, though beans and rice are both rich in protein, each lacks one or more of the necessary amino acids. However, taken together, or when you combine either with any of a number of protein-rich foods, you form a complete protein that is a high-quality (and a lot less dangerous) substitute for meat.