Eight amino acids that cannot be synthesized in the human body are called essential. Their intake into the body with food is simply necessary. There is a widespread belief that these amino acids are found only in meat and dairy products. However, this is a misconception. All the substances necessary for vital activity can be obtained from the vegetarian menu.
Plants, unlike animals, have a unique function of synthesizing protein from water, air, soil. Plants can also synthesize essential amino acids, and the body of any animal, like humans, cannot do this. Therefore, it is vegetation that is the primary source of protein and amino acids.
Animal protein is very difficult for the body to assimilate without auxiliary elements - chlorophylls, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements contained in large quantities in plant foods. Accordingly, plant protein food is both its source and a complex of additional necessary substances for its assimilation.
The main vegetable source of amino acids is, of course, beans, primarily soybeans. They contain all eight essential amino acids. Beans are probably the only plant food that contains substances such as threonine and phenylalanine. Still, the culinary choice is not so scanty, because there are many varieties of beans: peas, soybeans, beans, lentils, chickpeas, mung bean and others.
Other amino acids in addition to beans can be obtained from nuts, seeds, sesame seeds. These foods are very rich in easily digestible protein and contain many other beneficial substances.
An irreplaceable substance such as valine is found, for example, in mushrooms, and tryptophan is found in bananas and dates.
A child's body needs two additional essential amino acids - arginine and histidine. They can be easily found in all types of beans, nuts and seeds.
Do not forget that in addition to amino acids, the body needs many other substances and vitamins, so you need to constantly monitor the balance of the diet.
