Protein: What is it?

The word protein comes from Greek and means ‘first importance’. And with good reason as nearly every chemical reaction in our cells involves protein. Protein also provides our bodies with structure and is needed to make bones, joints and skin. Protein is important in sending messages as it is used to make hormones and neurotransmitters. Digestive enzymes are proteins that break down the food we eat. Haemoglobin, which is a protein containing iron in our red blood cells, carries oxygen around our bodies. And our immune system requires protein to make antibodies which fight against infection.

Protein is broken down by our digestive system into amino acids. We require around 20 different amino acids, which are like building blocks, to make the thousands of the different proteins our bodies need. Our bodies are so clever they can even convert one amino acid into a different one if there isn’t enough to build a particular protein. However, eight of these amino acids are ‘essential’, which simply means we have to get these essential amino acids from our food, rather than remodelling some we already have.
The essential amino acids are: Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan and Valine. Histadine and Arginine are thought to be essential in babies and children as they may not be able to make enough for their growth needs.

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