Our bodies need protein throughout our lives as they provide the necessary rebuilding of damaged cells, antibodies, enzymes, hormones and the building of our muscles and organs. Proteins are readily available in our diets and whilst all protein is healthy, some are better than others.
Amino acids are the molecules that make up proteins. Amino acids are digested through the food you eat and these amino acids are they are used by our cells to make protein for the cells. There are twenty different amino acids, nine are essential and eleven are non-essential. The non-essential amino acids just mean our bodies can make them without needing them form an external source, like food. A complete protein is made up of the essential amino acids. Animals are the providers of complete proteins, where plant foods (except for soy beans) do not provide us with complete proteins. The strongest proteins are the ones that can be metabolized into your body the fastest. The strongest protein is whey protein followed by egg white, fish, dairy products, beef, soy and then last of all are the legumes (beans, lentils, etc..). Plant proteins can be combined with animal proteins to make complete proteins. Whilst it may appear that animal proteins are better than vegetable ones, this must be taken into consideration in that a balanced diet (where protein is part of your body requirements) is the real goal you should be achieving on a daily basis.
The amount of proteins you need vary with your age and your gender. Males need more protein than females, babies need more protein per pound (kilogram) than their moms and their moms need more proteins than their moms. Protein has a low number of calories, that is why high protein diets work for weight loss. High protein diets are based on meat and dairy products and are often replacing fish and vegetable protein. High protein diets can be harmful for people with liver or kidney disease. Protein overdose can occur if you eat more than double of what your body needs over a long period of time. A good balanced diet will be based on 10 percent of your calories intake per day will come from protein.