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Protein in diet

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• Food Sources
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• Side Effects

Alternative Names:

Diet - protein; Complete protein; Incomplete protein

Food Sources:

Protein-containing foods are grouped as either complete or incomplete proteins.

Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids . Complete proteins are found in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products such as yogurt and cheese. Soybeans are the only plant protein considered to be a complete protein.

Incomplete proteins lack one or more of the essential amino acids. Sources of incomplete protein include beans, peas, nuts, seeds, and grain. A small amount of incomplete protein is also found in vegetables.

Plant proteins can be combined to provide all of the essential amino acids and form a complete protein. Examples of combined, complete plant proteins are rice and beans, milk and wheat cereal, and corn and beans.

• Review Date: 7/5/2007
• Reviewed By: William McGee, M.D., M.H.A., Chairman, Nutrition Committee, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA and Assistant Professor of Medicine and Surgery,Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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