Question

How is protein used by the body measure. What are the many ways?

my class is nutrition and health

Answer 1

Protein the word has come from the Greek "proteas" which means first or the" primary ".

It is made with the amino acids, there are approximately 20 amino acids which are found that further make various types of proteins in the human body, almost thousands of proteins are made with the 20 amino acids.

Protein is one of the most important nutrients needed by the human body, it helps in the maintenance and growth of tissues and provides energy equivalent to the carbohydrates that is 4kcal.

How the body uses proteins.

When a human takes a protein-rich diet, it undergoes digestion and the protein molecules are broken into tiny chains of peptides, broken down substance helps in the absorption of only the essential amino acids.

To prevent oneself from protein deficiency, it is important to take 9 types of essential amino acids through the diet.

The nine essential amino acids are.

1. Lysine.

2. Histidine.

3. Threonine.

4. Tryptophan.

5. Methionine.

6. Leucine.

7. Phenylalanine.

8. Valine.

9. Leucine.

These are the essential amino acids which human body cannot synthesise and there is a need to take it through the diet, also deficiency of these proteins can lead to protein-energy malnutrition that further can cause death.

Also, there are 5 non-essential amino acids which our body can synthesise by its own.

5 non-essential amino acids are.

1. Aspartic acids.

2. Glutamic acids.

3. Serine.

4. Asparagine.

5. Alanine.

Functions of proteins are.

1. Repair of body tissues and maintaining growth.

Protein is always needed by the body in every condition, it's demand increases when the body faces some illness, gestation, breastfeeding, or any surgery, to fulfil the increased demand of protein during these conditions, dietary intake should be increased.

2. Helps in biochemical change.

Protein causes various chemical reaction in the body by which it combines with other molecules and work outside and inside of the cells.

It helps in the proper functioning of the digestive system, clotting of blood to prevent haemorrhage, produces energy and helps in the contraction of muscles.

3. Some proteins are antibodies.

Antibodies are the proteins which protect the body from the attack of antigen such as bacteria and virus, the protein which is called antibodies are IgG.

4. Act as a messenger.

Some proteins are hormones and act as a messenger, its work is to transmit the message or the signal from one cell to the tissues of various part of bodies to maintain coordination among all the cells and the tissues.

Eg --- Growth hormones.

5. Maintenance of cell structure.

The protein ACTIN helps to maintain the structure of the cells of the body and also it helps in the movement of the body or locomotion.

6. Transportation of nutrients and its storage.

Small atom and molecules are bind together and sent from one place to another within the body or within the cells, such proteins are ferritin.

The molecule which is transported are minerals, blood glucose, vitamins, cholesterol etc..

7. Maintain power of hydrogen in the body.

one of the most important functions of protein is to maintain the pH of the body fluids, the example of a protein which maintains the pH of the human body is the haemoglobin ( which makes RBC'S).

8. Maintains fluid balance in the body.

Some of the proteins such as albumin and globulins play an important role in keeping the fluid in the body balanced.

If the amount of these proteins are not maintained in the body, it doesn't help to maintain blood in the vessels and causes oedema and swelling as the fluids accumulate into the intracellular space.