3.2.1.1 Protein GapFill

Proteins are organic macromolecules built from  adipose tissuecouscouspeptidesamino acids, bound together into long chains.There are about 20 different amino acids which can combine to make a molecule of protein. Some of the amino acids can be built by the body from scratch – for this reason they are called 'dispensable'. If an amino acid cannot be built by the body from scratch, it is called  a misoan insolublean essentiala high biological value amino acid and has to be provided as a part of a healthy diet.

There are  twotwentynineeleven essential amino acids and if they are all present in a molecule of protein, such protein is called a complete protein and has a  high energy valueincomplete valuehigh biological valueinsufficient value. If one or more of the amino acids is missing, the protein is considered  a low biological valuea solidan unstablea stable protein.

Protein  complementationcomplementingcoagulationcorrelation allows us to combine two or more sources of low biological value proteins to make a   adequatetextured vegetablewholefatty protein. An example of this is  hot dogcheese on toastbeans on toastspaghetti bolognese. Complete proteins occur mostly in  animal-derived foodsnutsfruits and vegetablesplant foods, but also in  breadquinoagherkinscouscous and  olive oilgreen peastomatoessoy.

Proteins are necessary to build  adipose tissueall cells in the bodylardunsaturated fat , enzymes and hormones. They can also be used as a  freeinsolublesecondaryprimary source of energy – this means that they are only used as a source of energy if other sources (carbohydrates and fats) are not available.
If a person eats too little protein, he or she may develop a disease called  kwashiorkornight blindnessscurvykidney stones. Too much protein can also be harmful for the body, causing harm to the liver and the kidneys.