What are proteins? Types, foods and benefits

"Do you want to lose weight? Eat more protein. Do you want a more toned body? Consume more protein"More and more we read more about the benefits of having a high protein diet, but do we know well what protein is and where can we find it?

Sometimes we forget to explain the base, the elementary and we assume that we know perfectly what is "x" or "y". Therefore, we have decided to delve into proteins.

These belong to what we know as macronutrients, in which we also include fats and carbohydrates. Proteins are basically made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, although some also contain sulfur and phosphorus. In other words we could say that the raw base of the proteins are amino acids. And basically, these are present throughout our body: muscles, hairs, bones, skin and even the brain tissue that produces our thoughts, emotions and consciousness.

As we have seen, these macronutrients are essential for the proper functioning of our body and are key to our health. But there is not only one type of protein, nor a single way to consume it. We invite you to know the different types of proteins there are and what they are for.

According to its origin we can divide it into animal and vegetable protein:

– Animal proteins: They are meat, fish, eggs, dairy, etc. Benefits: When humans consume animal protein, they get a greater number of defenses. Eating beef, pork, chicken, fish or eggs complements the essential amino acids for the body such as lysine, which promotes calcium absorption and antibody creation.

– Vegetable proteins: Are those that come from vegetables such as legumes, seeds, nuts, etc. Benefits: Vegetable protein sources contain very few fats and are also unsaturated fats, help control cholesterol and maintain healthy intestinal flora and are a source of magnesium and calcium.

play High protein breakfasts to make your mouth water

Depending on their function, proteins can be classified into:

Hormonal: These proteins are transported through the blood and emit information from one cell to another.

Enzymes: are those that accelerate metabolic processes in cells.

Structural: They are necessary for our body such as collagen, keratin and elastin.

Defensive: These proteins have an immune function to protect us from bacteria.

Storage: They are those that keep minerals such as potassium or iron.

Conveyors: Proteins transport minerals to cells, as is the case with hemoglobin.

Receivers: are used in communication between cells.

Motorboats: are those that regulate the strength, speed of the heart and muscle contractions.

According to its composition Proteins are classified into two main classes:

Simple proteins or holoproteins are those that are composed exclusively of amino acids.

Conjugated proteins or heteroproteins are those that are composed of amino acids and another substance of a non-protein nature that is called a prosthetic group.

And what does all this have to do with keeping us thin and toned?

Experts agree that eating protein helps you control your appetite and improve body composition. The body burns more calories when it tries to digest the protein, in addition the brain receives a signal that will help you reduce anxiety and the desire to eat, an effect contrary to that produced by high glycemic carbohydrates (rich in sugars and refined flours ) that make us eat more, also help control blood glucose and insulin.