We know protein is the most important part of healthy diet
along with fats and carbohydrates. Proteins are made up of chemical 'building
blocks' called amino acids. Our body uses amino acids to build and repair
muscles and bones and to make hormones and enzymes. They can also be used as an
energy source, beside this protein also serves another critical function in the
body: It helps power our immune system, stoking the cells that our bodies need
to fight off infection, both bacterial and viral, and keep our guard up against
illness of all kinds.
Protein plays an important role in poweringour body's T-cells, the agents that
go out and attack opportunistic invaders that can get into our bloodstream and
cause infection, a diet low in protein leaves us open to fatigue, weakness, and
low immune response. Proteins help form immunoglobulin, or antibodies, to fight
infections. Antibodies are proteins in our blood that help protect us from
harmful invaders like bacteria and viruses. When these foreign invaders enter
our cells, antibodies are produced that tag them for elimination. Without these
antibodies, bacteria and viruses would be free to multiply and overwhelm our
body with the disease they cause. Once our body has produced antibodies against
a particular bacteria or virus, our cells never forget how to make them, this
allows the antibodies to respond quickly the next time a particular disease
agent invades our body, as a result, our body develops immunity against the
diseases to which it is exposed. Now it is clear that eating enough nutrients as
part of a varied diet is required for the health and function of all cells,
including immune cells. Certain dietary patterns may better prepare the body for
microbial attacks and excess inflammation, but it is unlikely that individual
foods offer special protection. Each stage of the body’s immune response relies
on the presence of many micronutrients. Examples of nutrients that have been
identified as critical for the growth and function of immune cells include
vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein found in a variety of
plant and animal foods. In hospitals where patients lack appetite and treatments
can zap their immunity, especially when someone is on chemotherapy for cancer,
they are often given arginine, an amino acid which has been shown to help boost
immunity and speed up healing Another amino acid, glutamine, travels in our
blood cells to offer intestinal cells curative effects, which can prevent
microbial contamination from the food we eat, but for most of us, supplements
are not the answer instead we can get all these essential amino acids through
adding healthy protein in our diet and a healthy diet with a variety of
vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, lean meat, fish, poultry, dairy products
nuts, and seeds will not only provide us best quality of protein, but will also
provide all other required macro and micronutrients.