Proteins |
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Proteins
are the most important component of our organism after water, and
their name underlines this: it derives from the ancient greek word
"pròteios" which means "of primary importance". Our organism is in fact composed of billiards of cells, and these cells themselves are built from proteins. To express this concept scientists say that proteins have a "plastic" function. Also made of proteins are enzymes, hormones, antibodies, muscles, bones, hair, the skin, and all the internal organs. Proteins are born from the combination of a little more than twenty tiny substances and from a mysterious name: the amminoacids. Our organism is able to synthesize only some of these amminoacids of which proteins are made, the ones called "non essential"; the others, "essentials", must be absorbed with foods. A food is therefore all the more complete the more essential amminoacids it contains. The most cmplete foods are the ones of animal origin, such as meat, fish, milk and eggs, as these contain all of the essential amminoacids.. The ones of vegetable origin, such as cerals and pulses, are lacking in some essential amminoacid and are therefore of an inferior quality. The lack of essential amminoacids can be repaired eating both cereals and pulses though! |
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Where do you find them?
"Noble" Proteins:
all kinds of meats, all kinds of fish, shellfish and crostaceans, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt
"Poor" Proteins:
All pulses (beans, broad beans, chick peas, green peas and lentils), all cereals and cereal derivates (wheat, corn, rice, soy, maize, bread, pasta, semolina flour)
