Proteins

Where are proteins found?

Proteins are found in many different foods, from both animal and plant sources. Common sources of protein are:

• Animal products such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products
• Plant products such as legumes, tofu, tempeh and quinoa
• Nuts and seeds such as almonds, sunflower seeds and chia seeds
• Cereal products such as oatmeal and wholemeal bread
• Milk and milk products such as cheese and yoghurt

Proteins and digestion

Proteases are digestive enzymes that play a crucial role in the breakdown of proteins in our body. They break down the long chains of amino acids that form proteins into smaller peptides and ultimately into individual amino acids. This process begins in the stomach, where the enzyme pepsin becomes active and breaks down proteins into smaller pieces.

In the small intestine, other proteases play a role in the further breakdown of proteins.

This breakdown is essential because the body needs the smaller amino acids for various functions, such as muscle building, cell repair and the production of enzymes and hormones. Without sufficient proteases, proteins cannot be digested properly, which can affect the efficient absorption and utilisation of amino acids.

When proteases function optimally, the amino acids released from the proteins can be efficiently absorbed through the intestinal wall and used by the body for energy and repair.