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Proteins 2

Food Preparation & Nutrition: AQA GCSE, topic 2.1.2

Protein Alternatives

Meat and fish are good sources of protein. Vegetarian foods that contain proteins include eggs, green vegetables, chickpeas and potatoes. Protein alternatives include:

Soya beans

Soya beans

  • HBV source of protein.
  • Plant-based.
  • Used to produce soya milk, soy flour and tofu.
  • Cannot be eaten raw (cooking removes toxic elements).
Mycoprotein

Mycoprotein

  • Made by combining a fungus with egg white.
  • Can make a vegan version of mycoprotein by using potato-starch.
  • Sold in chunks, fillets or mince form.
Textured vegetable protein (TVP)

Textured vegetable protein (TVP)

  • Soya flour (ground soya beans) is used to make TVP.
  • Soya flour can be used in dough. When it's baked, it's texture is like meat. It can be used in chilis and casseroles.
Tofu

Tofu

  • Tofu is curdled soya milk.
  • Water consistency affects the texture.
  • For example, soft tofu contains lots of water.

Amounts of Proteins

Dietary reference values offer rough guidelines for how much protein people should have in their diets. Having too little or too much protein can cause serious health problems.

Dietary reference values

Dietary reference values

  • Estimates of the levels of nutrients people need in their diets.
  • Average male - 55g daily.
  • Average female - 45g daily.
  • But these are only estimates and, in reality, needs vary:
  • Pregnant women - need around 6g more protein to support the baby's growth.
  • Growing children and adolescents - need more protein than their size and body mass suggest.
Consequences of too much protein

Consequences of too much protein

  • Can strain liver and kidneys (involved in processing proteins).
Consequences of too little protein

Consequences of too little protein

  • Slowed growth.
  • Poor digestion.
  • Hair loss.
  • Malfunctioning immune system (so higher likelihood of catching disease).
  • Infections, such as:
  • Oedema (swelling caused by a build-up of fluid).
  • In extreme circumstances, a nutritional disorder called Kwashiorkor (oedema of the stomach is a symptom).

Test yourself on Proteins 2

  • TVP is a protein alternative. What does TVP stand for?

  • Which protein alternative is made by combining a fungus with egg white?

  • How many grams of protein should the average male consume per day?

  • Which of the following is NOT a potential symptom of a protein deficiency?

  • Which organs are strained by a diet that contains too much protein?

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