Let’s start with a clear idea: proteins must be present in the diet, because, after water, they are the main component of the body and direct almost all vital processes. This is how María Real Capell (@mariarealcapell), pharmacist, nutritionist and psychoneuroimmunoendocrine, explains that proteins allow us to generate muscle, maintain cell integrity, control and regulate functions, form collagen, elastin, keratin, etc. “WHO recommends between 0.8 and 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day, although many nutritionists increase patients with protein intake to improve their body composition and quality of life, these intakes are safe “, We explain. Considering the fact that more and more people are following herbal diets, I asked him, in particular, about the proteins in plant origin. “It is possible to have a well-balanced protein diet by consuming herbal foods,” anticipates the specialist. First of all, I would like to explain what a complete protein is. A complete protein is a source of dietary protein that contains an adequate proportion of each of the nine essential amino acids in the human diet. You have to imagine a protein as if it were a train and the different amino acids are the wagons of this train “, he explains. Where are those complete proteins? In meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, soy, quinoa, beans and chickpeas.
“When limiting foods are combined into different amino acids, they complement each other and get complete proteins with all the essential amino acids. That’s why vegetarian cuisine tends to be a little more elaborate combine plant foods and get complete protein. Here I would like to point out that, for example, some packaged processed meat (sausages, sausages, etc.) does not have the necessary proteins, because flour and parts that are not rich in these essential amino acids, such as cartilage parts, are added. Therefore, it is a mistake to believe that eating sausages and processed meat we eat protein “, he explains.
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