We start from a clear idea: proteins must be present in the diet, Since, after water, they are the main component of the body and direct almost all vital processes. This is how Maria Real Capell (@mariarealcapell), pharmacist, nutritionist and psychoneuroimmunoendocrine, explains that the protein allows us to build muscle, maintain the integrity of cells, control and regulate functions, form collagen, elastin, keratin , etc. “The WHO recommends between 0.8 and 1.2 g of protein per kg of body weight per day, although many nutritionists increased our patients’ protein intake to improve their body composition and quality of life. these safe intakes, ”he tells us. Given that more and more people are following vegetable diets, We asked him, in particular, about the proteins of plant origin. “It is possible to have a well-balanced diet in protein by eating plant-based foods,” the specialist anticipates. “First of all, I would like to explain what a complete protein is. A complete protein is a dietary source of 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 that train, “he explains. Where are these complete proteins? In meat, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, soy , quinoa, beans and chickpeas.
“When limiting foods are joined into different amino acids, they complement each other and complete proteins with all the essential amino acids. That’s why vegetarian cooking tends to be a little more elaborate, so combine plant foods and thus obtain complete proteins. Here I would like to point out that for example some packaged processed meats (sausages, sausages, etc.) do not have the necessary proteins because flours and parts not rich in these essential amino acids such as cartilage parts are added to them. Therefore, it is a mistake to think that by eating sausages and processed meat we are eating protein, “he explains.
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