3.2.1.1 Protein GapFill

Proteins are organic macromolecules built from  adipose tissuepeptidescouscousamino 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  an essentiala high biological valuean insolublea miso 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 biological valueincomplete valuehigh energy valueinsufficient value. If one or more of the amino acids is missing, the protein is considered  a stablean unstablea solida low biological value protein.

Protein  correlationcomplementationcomplementingcoagulation allows us to combine two or more sources of low biological value proteins to make a   adequatewholetextured vegetablefatty protein. An example of this is  hot dogcheese on toastbeans on toastspaghetti bolognese. Complete proteins occur mostly in  plant foodsfruits and vegetablesnutsanimal-derived foods, but also in  couscousgherkinsquinoabread and  soyolive oilgreen peastomatoes.

Proteins are necessary to build  all cells in the bodyadipose tissuelardunsaturated fat , enzymes and hormones. They can also be used as a  freeprimaryinsolublesecondary 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  kwashiorkorkidney stonesnight blindnessscurvy. Too much protein can also be harmful for the body, causing harm to the liver and the kidneys.