Transcript From the Careers Centre

Protein
A macronutrient
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Protein facts
• Eating one gram of protein provides the body
with 17 kilojoules of energy
• Protein is especially important during times of
growth, such as during adolescence and
pregnancy
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Protein facts
• Many amino acids join together to make
protein.
• Protein is broken down into amino acids
during digestion for easy absorption
• Some are stored in the liver to make new
proteins and tissues required by the body
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Structure of protein
•
Protein is made up of amino acids (AAs); there
are 2 types of AAs:
1. Essential
cannot be made by the
body (must be taken in food)
2. Non-essential
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
can be made by
the body
Functions of protein
• The nitrogen in protein helps
with growth and repair and
maintenance all body tissues
(e.g. skin, nails, muscle).
• Hormones, enzymes and
antibodies are made and
regulated from protein
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Functions of protein
• Protein regulates body processes such as
water balance both inside and outside cells
• Provides structure to the body e.g. collagen is
the strong and flexible framework for
skeleton, tendons, connective tissue
• Protein provides some energy if supplies
from CHO and fats are low
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Food sources
•
There are two types of protein sources:
1. Complete proteins
–
–
Foods that contain all of the essential AAs
e.g. meat, fish, cheese, soy beans and milk from animal
sources
2. Incomplete proteins
–
–
Food that does not contain all of the essential AAs
e.g. vegetables, grains and nuts
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
Food sources
•
•
•
•
•
•
Meat, fish, poultry
Whole milk
Eggs
Cheese
Soya beans
Are complete
proteins – contain
essential amino
acids
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health
What about vegetarians?
• Eating foods in combination
can allow this complete
protein to be available, e.g.
baked beans on wholemeal
toast
Area of study 1: Understanding Australia’s health
Unit 3: Australia’s health