A protein is any chain of amino acids. Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, proteins provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure.
Protein can be found in both animal and vegetable foods. Most animal sources (meat, milk, eggs) provide "complete protein": they contain all of the essential amino acids.
Vegetable foods usually have few or none of the essential amino acids. Example: rice is low in isoleucine and lysine.
Some vegetable sources contain quite a bit of protein -- things like nuts, beans, soybeans, etc. are all high in protein.
You're a busy poster, do you like replying to yourself under about 12 different names?
Tara
"mattbma" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
A protein is any chain of amino acids. Carbohydrates provide cells with energy, proteins provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure.
Protein can be found in both animal and vegetable foods. Most animal sources (meat, milk, eggs) provide "complete protein": they contain all of the essential amino acids.
Vegetable foods usually have few or none of the essential amino acids. Example: rice is low in isoleucine and lysine.
Some vegetable sources contain quite a bit of protein -- things like nuts, beans, soybeans, etc. are all high in protein.