COMPLETE

AND

INCOMPL

ETE P

ROTEIN

S

WHAT ARE PROTEINS?

-Proteins are an essential part of any diet

-They help the body in many ways, some of which include:

- Building, maintaining, and replacing tissue in the body

- Making specialized protein molecules, such as hemoglobin

- Helps build muscle

EATING PROTEINS

- When you eat food, your body breaks down the protein into basic units called amino acids

- Amino acids are combined and reused to make the proteins your body needs to maintain itself

ESSENTIAL AMINO ACIDS

- There are many different proteins the body needs, but there are 22 that are especially important for maintaining health

- Your body can make 13 out of the 22 proteins but the other 9 can only come from your diet

- These 9 amino acids are called essential amino acids because it is essential that your get them from the foods that you eat

COMPLETE PROTEINS

- Contain all 9 essential amino acids- Mainly animal based- Can be found in meat, eggs, dairy,

poultry, fish, quinoa, buckwheat, and chia seed

INCOMPLETE PROTEINS

- Do not contain all 9 essential amino acids- Need to be eaten in combinations to become a

complete protein- Combinations such as rice and beans, spinach

and almonds, hummus and whole-grain pita

EATING MEAT

Pros:

- Easy to get all essential amino acids

- High in protein

- Tastes good

- Provides nutrition like iron, B12, and calcium

Cons:

- Meats are high in fats and cholesterol

- Can lead to cancer, heart disease, and strokes

- Unethical

VEGETARIAN/VEGANISM

Pros:

- Ethical

- Many health benefits

- Environmentally Friendly

Cons:

- Lacks all essential amino acids

- Not good for picky eaters

- Can be unhealthy if done improperly

- Social stigma (wimpy, opinionated)

DAVID CARTER- Defensive lineman for the Oakland

Raiders and powerlifter- Follows a vegan diet- Known as “The 300lb Vegan”

PATRIK BABOUMIAN

- Strongest man in Germany (2011)- Holds several world records for strength- Follows a vegan diet