Proteins-Which meat to eat

Protein is a nutrient needed for the growth of the body. Four calories are found in each gram of protein. Proteins are made up of 20 basic building blocks called amino acids that provide the material for all proteins. Most Americans eat more protein and grains than vegetables and fruits on a daily basis. There are different kinds of protein that you should be aware of.

There are two kinds of protein:

1.       Complete protein- which means all the amino acids are present to build new body tissue. Sources of complete protein are found in animal’s sources of protein which include meat, eggs, or dairy products. Basically if it comes from an animal it is a complete source of protein. 

2.     Incomplete protein- this lacks one or more amino acids that body cannot make from scratch. These are found in vegetables, grains, and nuts.

The more complete protein that you can eat daily, the better!

Problems with proteins

One concern with protein is that you can get too much protein. Yes, that’s right I said YOU CAN GET TOO MUCH PROTEIN!!! Eating excessive amounts of protein requires lots of calcium which is needed to neutralize the amino acids. This could cause calcium to be pulled from your bones! The body only needs about .35 grams of protein daily for every pound of body weight.

The lack of protein altogether could be harmful as well. Vegetarians need a source of complete protein for their bodies. Vegetarians that don’t eat meat, poultry, or fish need a source of complete protein that they could get from eggs, milk, and other dairy products.

Best kinds of protein

The best kinds of protein to eat are fish and poultry. If you like meat, I suggest when buying meat to choose lean choices! Most packages say if it is lean or not. Also consider eating dried or cooked beans and nuts.