Why Are Proteins Important?

Proteins are also essential nutrients for the human body. They are important in body tissue, and can also serve as a fuel source. Every cell in the human body contains protein. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. We need protein in our diet to help our body to repair cells and make new ones. The human body needs a lot of amino acids to maintain good health. Protein is also important for growth and development in children, teens, and pregnant women.
Proteins are polymer chains made of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. During human digestion, proteins are broken down in the stomach to smaller polypeptide chains via hydrochloric acid and proteaseactions. This is vital for the synthesis of the essential amino acids …show more content…
Fats, also known as triglycerides, are esters of three fatty acid chains and the alcohol glycerol. Fat is an important foodstuff for life, and fats serve both structural and metabolic functions. Some fatty acids that are set free by the digestion of fats are important because they cannot be synthesized in the body from simpler constituents. Two essential fatty acids in human nutrition are alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid. Other lipids needed by the body can be synthesized from other fats. Fats and other lipids are broken down in the body by enzymes called lipases produced in the …show more content…
Since if we eat fewer calories than we spend, over an extended period time our body will use the stored fat to fill the gap, knowing the food energy we take is a guide for weight loss. However, managing energy balance should be based on both food consumption and physical activity instead of concentrating on counting the calories we eat while neglecting the calories we burn and vice versa. Once again, my question is which food component gives us the most energy, carbohydrates, protein or fat and my hypothesis is that fat provides the most