A complete protein or whole protein is a protein that contains all amino acids, most notably the nine essential amino acids to humans and most animals, in ratios appropriate to the body.^[1] A representation of the 3D structure of myoglobin, showing coloured alpha helices. ... An essential amino acid or indispensible amino acid, is an amino acid that cannot be synthesized de novo by the organism (usually referring to humans), and therefore must be supplied in the diet. ...

Some non-animal, complete proteins can be obtained through certain plants, such as soy, hempseed, amaranth, buckwheat, and quinoa, as well as animal byproducts such as milk, cheese, whey, and eggs. Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... U.S. Marihuana production permit, from the film Hemp for Victory. ... Amaranth has been cultivated as a grain for 8,000 years, dating back to the Maya culture of South and Central America. ... Binomial name Fagopyrum esculentum Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a plant in the genus Fagopyrum (sometimes merged into genus Polygonum) in the family Polygonaceae. ... Binomial name Chenopodium quinoa Willd. ... A glass of cows milk A goat kid feeding on its mothers milk Milk is the nutrient fluid produced by the mammary glands of female mammals (including monotremes). ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... Whey or milk plasma is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained; it is a by-product of the manufacture of cheese or casein and has several commercial uses. ... An egg is an ovum produced by a female animal for reproduction, often prepared as food. ...

A variety of complete proteins in the diet are an ideal way of assuring that the body's amino acid needs are met. Complete proteins are not necessary for this however. Essential amino acids can be obtained on their own from various plant proteins, which contrary to popular belief do not need to be combined (see: Protein combining). Protein combining (also protein complementing) is the theory, now largely discredited, that vegetarians must eat foods such as beans and rice together, or at least on the same day, so the different amino acids in the foods combine to form a complete protein, containing all eight essential amino acids necessary...

Sources of complete protein

• All animal proteins are complete, including meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy.^[1]
• Although most vegetable proteins are deficient in one or more essential amino acids, a few have amino acid ratios that make them complete or nearly so. These foods include spirulina, quinoa^[2], soy, buckwheat, and amaranth.

Incomplete vegetable proteins can be combined to include all essential amino acids. For example, beans can be combined with either rice or corn (maize) to produce a complete protein.^[1] Recent research shows these combinations can be made at any time during the day, meaning foods do not need to be combined at a single meal.^[3] Species Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements produced primarily from two species of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira platensis, and These and other Arthrospira species were once classified in the genus Spirulina. ... Binomial name Chenopodium quinoa Willd. ... Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... Binomial name Fagopyrum esculentum Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a plant in the genus Fagopyrum (sometimes merged into genus Polygonum) in the family Polygonaceae. ... Species See text. ... Green beans Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae) used for food or feed. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa Rice is two species of grass (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) native to tropical and subtropical southern & southeastern Asia and in Africa, which together provide more than one fifth of the calories consumed by humans in their global diets[1]. (The term wild rice can... Binomial name Zea mays L. Maize (Zea mays ssp. ...

Protein quality

Incomplete and complete proteins differ in protein quality. Higher quality proteins have a higher Biological Value (BV) such as egg at 100 BV compared to soy at 74. A higher BV is more usable than a lower BV for essential protein necessary to meet nutritional human requirements and muscle growth.^{[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]} Biological Value or BV is a common method for measuring protein quality and biological utilization rates of protein for human and animal consumption. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Protein in diet". Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia. (September 2, 2003). U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Health. Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
2. ^ Quinoa: An emerging "new" crop with potential for CELSS (NASA Technical Paper 3422) (PDF document). NASA (November 2003). Retrieved on 2006-10-28.
3. ^ Vegetarian eating. Better Health Channel (November 2005).
4. ^ CoryHolly.com - Articles - Whey and Soy Protein Article
5. ^ Optimum Sports Nutrition: Your Competitive Edge, A Complete Nutritional Guide For Optimizing Athletic Performance; 1993, by Dr. Michael Colgan
6. ^ E. Renner, “Milk and Dairy Products in Human Nutrition,” Munich, Germany, 1983.
7. ^ The Great Animal Versus Vegetable Protein Debate What Is The Best Protein For Muscle Growth?
8. ^ The Use Of Biological Value Of A Protein In Evaluting Its Quality For Human Requirments
9. ^ Nutritional Evaluation of Protein Foods
10. ^ Turning Up The Heat Newsletter: Evaluating the Quality of Common Protein Sources by Cheri A. Lynn.