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Written by Navneet Kaur, M.Sc. Nutrition & Dietetics
Diet
Protein is on everyone's mind nowadays. People are looking for ways to meet their requirements or foods rich in protein, protein supplements, etc
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Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. They are needed for vital processes such as building proteins, hormones and neurotransmitters.
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These amino acids are concentrated in protein-rich foods such as eggs, chicken, legumes, meat, fish, and soybeans.
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Depending on several factors, they can be categorized into essential, conditionally essential, or non-essential.
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Our body needs 20 different amino acids to grow and function properly. While all 20 are important, nine are classified as essential amino acids.
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The nine essential amino acids are Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Valine, Methionine, Tryptophan, Phenylalanine, and Threonine.
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Although non-essential amino acids can be produced in the body, essential ones are not, so we need to include them in our diet through food.
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The food sources of essential amino acids are majorly animal proteins such as meat, eggs, and poultry. However, some plant sources, such as soy and its products like edamame and tofu, contain all nine essential amino acids, which means they are complete protein sources.
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Protein powders & specific essential amino acids supplements are also a good way to incorporate them into our daily routine, which can help meet overall dietary requirements. You need not worry if you are a vegetarian or a vegan, as there are products for all.
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After we eat protein, it breaks down into amino acids that help our body's overall growth and development. Try to include it from food sources, or you can also explore protein powder or essential amino acids supplements available in the market.
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