Proteins in holistic nutrition

The human being is a highly complex organism and needs different compounds to stay alive. Although the human body has several mechanisms for self-sufficiency during the most complex periods, the prolonged absence of some of these components would cause the interruption of its vital functions.

Among the most important macronutrients are proteins, essential for human life, since they are involved in most of the processes carried out by the human body, being essential in the formation of hormones, tissues, organs, among others. Regardless of your eating style, you cannot do without proteins in your nutritional diet.

Taking into account the importance of this important nutrient, we will dedicate the following lines to outline some of the characteristics and distinctive elements that give special relevance to proteins in terms of nutrition.

Characteristics

Proteins are complex molecules made up of amino acids that are released and absorbed in the intestine after digestion. Amino acids are linked in chains, and their sequence determines the structure and function of the protein. These compounds are essential for the proper functioning of the organism. Of the 20 amino acids, 9 cannot be synthesized by the body, so they must be obtained through the diet. They regulate key functions by becoming enzymes or hormones such as insulin, adrenaline or thyroid hormones, and also serve as an alternative source of energy.

What about vegetarians?

It is common among people who are not vegetarians to affirm that vegetarian diets are low or null in proteins, the truth is that this is a widespread misconception due to lack of information on the matter. People who wish to maintain a vegetarian lifestyle can still acquire the protein they need through vegetable protein.

Vegetable protein is obtained from plants and offers numerous benefits for the functioning of different organs, standing out for its low fat content. In addition, it is rich in fiber and has no cholesterol. Like animal protein, it is composed of several amino acids that play a crucial role in most of our body's vital functions.

Among the foods of vegetable origin with the highest protein content are lentils, soybeans and chickpeas. Generally, legumes are rich in vegetable protein. Cereals have good levels of protein; among others, we can find rice, wheat, oats and corn. Another source of vegetable origin rich in protein is nuts, such as walnuts and almonds.

Importance

Proteins are essential for the human organism. This nutrient plays a fundamental role in the growth and development of our body, to get an idea, the protein has amino acids that are essential for life, if these are scarce in the body the consequences would be devastating to our health.

It is not enough to eat healthy, it is necessary that we understand that a diet must be balanced, enjoyable for our body and efficient in the macronutrients it provides. If we neglect this important macronutrient we can experience serious affectations in the protein receptors that affect our memory, diminish our concentration and experience attention deficit.

Proteins are essential for the correct performance of our organism after long days of study. Several studies point out the incidence that protein synthesis has on the positive stimuli of the brain, helping to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Protein contributes to energy production and increases alertness in the brain, which allows us to be more receptive and assimilate information more easily.