Protein

Pictures from underdeveloped countries show young children with spindly limbs and swollen bellies.  They have Kwashiorkor, which is caused by severe protein malnutrition, and it is rare in high income countries.   Composed of amino acids, protein is an essential nutrient that is involved in the structure and function of many bodily functions.    Meats, eggs, and dairy are “complete” sources of these building blocks, i.e., they contain the nine amino acids that the body cannot make on its own.  Some plants, for instance soybeans and quinoa, are also “complete proteins.” The average adult weighing 140 pounds needs about one and…

by jpwmd September 4, 2026September 4, 2026