About the Protein Food Group
The protein food group is part of the Food Pyramid designed by the USDA (The United States Department of Agriculture). The protein group is made up of meat, fish, beans, fish and poultry. The USDA recommends consuming 5 to 7 ounces daily of food from the protein group.
-
Function
-
Protein is a very important nutrient that the body uses for such functions as hair and nail growth, building muscle and maintaining internal organs.
Benefits
-
Eating a diet of lean protein provides the body with necessary nutrients. The body does not make protein, nor does the body store protein, so it is important to consume some protein every day.
-
Types
-
Protein can be found in a variety of different foods. Main sources of protein are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and beans or legumes.
Best Bets:
Eggs
Beef--Lean cuts like sirloin or 95 percent lean ground beef
Poultry--Skinless, white meat
Fish--Pick fish high in omega 3 fatty acids, like salmon for boosted health benefits
Legumes--beans (though make certain to combine with other food sources for complete complex protein)
Choosing lean meats, fish and legumes, will provide the body with the most effective protein. Other options, such as protein drinks, are available for those seeking to boost their protein intake.
Considerations
-
Those who eat a vegetarian diet do not get their protein source from meats, fish or poultry. It is very important that this group eat their protein in combination with other food items to get the complex protein necessary for health. For instance, combining rice and black beans makes a complete, complex protein.
Warning
-
Consuming too much protein or fatty protein could result in the body storing the overabundant protein as fat.
-
