Foodtopia: proteins
Intro to Proteins
Proteins are complex polymers made up of amino acids. The muscles in our bodies are made up from a variety of proteins that allow us to contract them, creating movement. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins are composed of amino acid molecules joined together in a chain like fashion by peptide linkages and can be make of 50 to 5,000 amino acids. The primary structure of proteins is determined by the number of amino acids and the order in which they are linked. There are 20 amino acids found in the body. Eight of these are essential for adult and nine are essential for infants, if they are essential that means we can't produce enough of it in our bodies and have to get them from our diets. All proteins are either produced in our bodies or consumed in our diet. There are a variety of proteins and functions. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions like metabolism and food digestion. Antibodies are proteins that fight illnesses and diseases found in the bloodstream. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen all over the body. Hormones regulate blood sugar levels, insulin, and growth. Every cell that makes up plants and animals require proteins for structure and function.
Proteins are complex polymers made up of amino acids. The muscles in our bodies are made up from a variety of proteins that allow us to contract them, creating movement. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins are composed of amino acid molecules joined together in a chain like fashion by peptide linkages and can be make of 50 to 5,000 amino acids. The primary structure of proteins is determined by the number of amino acids and the order in which they are linked. There are 20 amino acids found in the body. Eight of these are essential for adult and nine are essential for infants, if they are essential that means we can't produce enough of it in our bodies and have to get them from our diets. All proteins are either produced in our bodies or consumed in our diet. There are a variety of proteins and functions. Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions like metabolism and food digestion. Antibodies are proteins that fight illnesses and diseases found in the bloodstream. Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen all over the body. Hormones regulate blood sugar levels, insulin, and growth. Every cell that makes up plants and animals require proteins for structure and function.
Geometry of Proteins
Valine
Protein Reflection
Throughout our studies of proteins, a learned an abundance of new information. One of the most significant pieces was how proteins are in everything. Before I had not fully realized there are proteins in our bodies and muscles and stomach, not just in the food we eat. When I hear protein I would always think steak or turkey but now I know it is everywhere. Something else I was surprised by was how we need to eat certain things to get our essential amino acids. It is not so much the source you get it from but the actual nutrients in the food so it doesn't matter if you eat steak or beans as long as you are consuming the right amount of essential amino acids.
Throughout our studies of proteins, a learned an abundance of new information. One of the most significant pieces was how proteins are in everything. Before I had not fully realized there are proteins in our bodies and muscles and stomach, not just in the food we eat. When I hear protein I would always think steak or turkey but now I know it is everywhere. Something else I was surprised by was how we need to eat certain things to get our essential amino acids. It is not so much the source you get it from but the actual nutrients in the food so it doesn't matter if you eat steak or beans as long as you are consuming the right amount of essential amino acids.