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Meat and Protein

Protein is very important in the diet where it is needed for growth, repair and maintenance of body tissues. Proteins are made up of smaller sub-units called amino acids, where over 20 different amino acids are found. There are eight essential amino acids which the body cannot make, and must be supplied in the diet. Of these arginine and histidine are needed for growth in children and adolescents. The protein in meats contain all of the essential amino acids in the ideal proportions for use by the human body. Meat is therefore an example of a high biological value (HBV) protein.

Proteins which lack one, or more, of the essential amino acids are said to be of a low biological value (LBV). Proteins originating from plant sources tend to be LBV, and for this reason foods such as white/brown bread, peanuts, rice, beans and potatoes do not provide the full range of amino acids required by the human body. The biological value of such foods can however be increased by combining proteins from different sources where the amino acid deficiency in one food can be counteracted by being present in another food.

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