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Nutrition |
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Protein is composed of amino acids that are the body's structural
(muscles, skin, hair etc.) materials. The body requires amino acids to produce
new body protein and to replace damaged proteins (maintenance) that are lost in
the urine. In animals, amino acid requirements are classified in terms of essential (an animal cannot produce them)
and non-essential (the animal
can produce them from other nitrogen containing compounds) amino acids.
Consuming a diet that contains adequate amounts of essential (but also
non-essential) amino acids is particularly important for growing animals, which
have a particularly high requirement. Dietary sources of protein include meats, tofu and other soy-products, eggs,
grains, legumes,
and dairy products such as milk
and cheese. Proteins can be converted into
carbohydrates through a process called gluconeogenesis.
Dietary minerals are the chemical elements required by living organisms, other than the four elements carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen which are present in common organic molecules.
A variety of elements are required to supportthe biochemical processes, many play a role as electrolytes or in a structural role. They are
Iodine is required in larger quantities than the other trace minerals in this list and is sometimes classified with the bulk minerals. Sodium is not generally found in dietary supplements, despite being needed in large quantities, because the ion is very common in food.
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