Protein — The Building Block of Life

Protein — The Building Block of Life

Peter Lee

In our daily diet, foods can generally be divided into two main categories.

The first is carbohydrates, which are digested and absorbed in the body, then broken down into glucose to serve as the primary source of energy for life activities.

The second is protein-rich foods, which are digested into amino acids — the essential raw materials for building and repairing the body’s structure and organs.

Proteins exist in many forms within the human body — in muscles, organs, bones, skin, and blood. They play an irreplaceable role in sustaining life.

Muscle tissue is composed mainly of protein. Consuming sufficient protein in daily meals is essential for maintaining muscle function and strength. Muscles are the most energy-consuming tissues in the body. The more developed the muscles, the greater their ability to store and burn glucose. This helps stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain the smoothness and elasticity of blood vessel walls — both crucial for cardiovascular health. Therefore, adequate intake of high-quality protein is a key foundation for overall well-being.

Protein is also a major component of blood. Both albumin and hemoglobin are forms of protein.

Decades ago, when food supplies were scarce, many people suffered from edema and anemia due to a lack of fish, meat, and other protein sources. The underlying cause was that the liver lacked the raw materials to produce enough albumin and hemoglobin, leading to poor blood formation and fluid imbalance in tissues. Such protein deficiency posed serious harm to human health.

Beyond this, proteins form the structural basis of vital organs such as the heart, liver, and lungs. Enzymes that catalyze biochemical reactions, transport proteins that carry substances like cholesterol, and immune antibodies are all made of protein. Even the skin, bones, and hair are primarily composed of protein. All of this shows that protein is a fundamental substance indispensable to human life.

In summary, protein is both the “building material” and the “functional engine” of the human body.

It constructs muscles, organs, and skin, while also managing transport, energy storage, metabolism, and immune defense.

Ensuring adequate intake of high-quality protein is essential to maintaining health, slowing aging, and sustaining vitality.