This topic may seem to be complicated and would need for you to have a deeper understanding on how our body works. However, the purpose of this article is to help you understand how protein metabolism works in our body, in the simplest way as possible.

First, in order to make us understand this topic, I would be giving you a background on what protein is and what it does to our body.

Protein

Protein provides energy the same way as carbohydrates and fats. Protein is composed of a large molecule that contains long chains of amino acids. This is an essential part of living organism because of the following:

• It serves as a body building food. Its main function is to help in the reproduction and growth in our body (muscle, bones, hormones, etc.)
• It forms the basic structure of a cell
• Helps as it boost the immune system; play a role in the biochemical reactions in our body; it transports molecules in the body; and controls or co-ordinate activities inside our body.

Metabolism

Metabolism is basically the chemical reaction that happens inside our body. This reaction makes our body grow and reproduce as well as making our body respond and adapt to changes in the environment.

Protein metabolism

Now that we have already define what protein and metabolism is, it is now easier to understand what the topic is all about.

Protein metabolism is composed of various biochemical processes. It can be described into two main processes.

1. Protein anabolism is the process where proteins are formed from amino acids. This is important during growth. While for adults, it helps in replacing lost proteins in the body.

2. Protein catabolism is the process where proteins are broken down to their amino acids to release energy in the body. Percentage of energy coming from this process varies depending on the intake of protein rich foods.

Adding protein rich foods in your diet will greatly help to increase your protein metabolism. Many people, especially vegetarian, worry about not getting enough protein, which is important for the body. Although vegetables and fruits do also have certain amounts of protein, it may not be enough to support your body needs. You can actually monitor your protein intake if you are aware on what foods are high in protein. Below is a list to summarize and give you an idea on foods rich in protein.

1. Dairy goods such as cheese, yogurt and of course milk are very good sources of protein.
2. Meat is also a source of protein, however consumption of this food should always be taken into proportion due to the possibility of getting heart disease.
3. Fish
4. Nuts and Seeds
5. Egg whites
6. Grains like wheat and vegetables

Understanding how our body works will greatly help us to take care of it. Monitoring our food intake and the nutrition we get from it contributes in making our body work, as it should.