Protein is present in every single cell, tissue and organ of the body. It is an important component when it comes to rebuilding the broken down and damaged cells of the body. Generally, it has been seen that Americans tend to eat more protein than required, and the quality of this protein is not good enough to help build a healthy and strong body.

Protein is found in meats, poultry, eggs, fish, milk, legumes, milk products, nuts, tofu, seeds, grains, and certain fruits and vegetables. However, most people do not eat a variety of foods to get the required amount of natural protein through their diet. Also, not all dietary proteins are the same. Some proteins contain the amino acids that are useful for cellular growth, while others do not contain these amino acids.

Proteins are made up of numerous amino acids that are synthesized by the digestive juices to be absorbed by the body. These amino acids are then recombined to form new proteins that facilitate growth of skin and bones and development of muscles and blood. The body requires 22 amino acids to ensure proper growth and development. Out of these 22, 9 amino acids are extremely essential for the body as the body does not have the ability to make these 9 amino acids. So, these 9 amino acids have to come from dietary sources.

The essential amino acids are present in animal proteins, while some of them are lacking in plant proteins. However, animal and plant proteins can be combined to ensure that the person gets all the essential amino acids. So, it is perfectly alright to have rice with beans, or eat peanut butter with whole grain bread.

A person should also refrain from consuming too much protein as it can lead to gaining too much weight and secondly, the amount of saturated fats in animal proteins can be bad for health. Consuming too much animal protein can lead to high levels of blood cholesterol, which can lead to heart-related diseases.