{"id":153946,"date":"2026-08-31T17:11:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:11:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/uncategorized\/what-are-proteins\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T14:52:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T12:52:21","slug":"what-are-proteins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/food-supplements\/what-are-proteins\/","title":{"rendered":"Proteins"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Proteins<\/h1>\n

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Proteins are Biological Macromolecules composed of chains of Amino Acids linked together by Peptide bonds. They are present in every cell of the human body and perform essential functions: from building and repairing tissues to regulating metabolic processes and supporting the functioning of the Immune System.<\/h2>\n

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Structure: from Amino Acids to Proteins<\/h2>\n

Proteins are built from 20 Amino Acids, 9 of which are classified as Essential<\/strong> because the body cannot synthesize them on its own and they must be obtained through diet or supplementation: Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine. The remaining 11 are Nonessential<\/strong> or Conditionally Essential<\/strong>, meaning they can be synthesized under normal conditions, but their production may become insufficient during periods of Physical Stress, Illness, or Nutritional Deficiency.<\/p>\n

The sequence in which Amino Acids are arranged along the chain \u2014 known as the Primary Structure \u2014 determines the three-dimensional shape of the Protein and, consequently, its specific biological function. Even a single change in the sequence can profoundly alter a Protein\u2019s activity.<\/p>\n

Classification of Proteins<\/h2>\n

Based on their Amino Acid profile, the following are distinguished:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Complete Proteins<\/strong> \u2014 contain all 9 Essential Amino Acids in adequate proportions. Typically of animal origin: Eggs, Meat, Fish, Dairy Products, and Whey. Among plant-based sources, Soy and Quinoa are complete.<\/li>\n
  • Incomplete Proteins<\/strong> \u2014 lacking one or more essential Amino Acids. Typically found in Legumes, Grains and Pseudograins. A complete profile is achieved by combining different sources (e.g., Rice + Peas).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Biological Functions<\/h2>\n

    Proteins play an extremely diverse range of biological roles:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Structural<\/strong> \u2014 Marine collagen and keratin form the structural framework of connective Tissue, Skin, Hair, Bones and Cartilage<\/li>\n
    • Enzymatic<\/strong> \u2014 Enzymes are Proteins that catalyze all of the body\u2019s Metabolic Reactions<\/li>\n
    • Immune<\/strong> \u2014 Antibodies are Glycoproteins produced by the Immune System in response to Pathogens<\/li>\n
    • Transport<\/strong> \u2014 Hemoglobin transports oxygen in the blood; Albumin transports Lipids, Hormones, and Drugs<\/li>\n
    • Hormonal<\/strong> \u2014 Insulin, Glucagon, and GH are Proteins that function as Metabolic signaling molecules<\/li>\n
    • Contractile<\/strong> \u2014 Actin and Myosin are the Proteins in Muscle Tissue that enable movement<\/li>\n
    • Energy<\/strong> \u2014 Under conditions of Carbohydrate Deficiency, Proteins can be converted into Glucose (Gluconeogenesis)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Requirements and Sources<\/h2>\n

      Daily protein requirements vary depending on age, sex, health status, and level of physical activity. The Italian Recommended Dietary Allowances (LARN) specify a reference intake of 0.9 g per kg of body weight per day<\/strong> for sedentary adults in good health. For athletes and sportspeople, requirements can rise to 1.4\u20132.0 g\/kg\/day<\/strong> depending on the type and intensity of training.<\/p>\n

      The richest dietary sources include lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, legumes, and whole grains. From a dietary supplement perspective, the most commonly used forms are:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Whey Protein<\/strong> \u2014 High biological value and rapid absorption; ideal for post-workout use<\/li>\n
      • Casein<\/strong> \u2014 Slow digestion, sustained release of Amino Acids; recommended for nighttime consumption<\/li>\n
      • Soy Protein<\/strong> \u2014 a complete plant-based source, a popular choice in Plant-Based formulations<\/li>\n
      • Pea and Rice Proteins<\/strong> \u2014 When combined, they provide a complete Amino Acid profile; widely used in the Vegan Sports Nutrition segment<\/li>\n
      • Egg Protein<\/strong> \u2014 one of the highest biological values available; intermediate digestion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        EFSA Claims approved<\/h2>\n

        EFSA has approved several nutrition and health claims related to protein, including:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Protein helps build and maintain muscle mass<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Protein helps maintain normal bones<\/strong><\/li>\n
        • Protein helps maintain normal hair and nails<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
          \n

          Excessive and prolonged protein intake \u2014 particularly more than 2 g\/kg\/day without a medical indication \u2014 can overload kidney function in individuals with a predisposition or preexisting conditions. In cases of kidney or liver failure, a doctor\u2019s advice is required before increasing protein intake with supplements. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, significant changes to the nutritional profile always require professional supervision.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

          \n

          We always remind you that it is important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or treatment.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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          Proteins are essential macronutrients composed of amino acids. Biological functions, dietary requirements, food sources, and forms found in supplements for sports, wellness, and health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[164,833,404],"tags":[601,643,653,673,769],"class_list":["post-153946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-food-supplements","category-macronutrients","category-protein","tag-food-ingredients","tag-sport-supplements","tag-sport-nutrition","tag-nutraceuticals","tag-amino-acidsmineral-salts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=153946"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153951,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153946\/revisions\/153951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=153946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=153946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/encanto.it\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=153946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}