1. Why are essential proteins so important to a healthy diet?
Proteins are a “macronutrient” (just like carbohydrates and fat), which means that your body needs a large amount of them in order to stay healthy. A healthy diet requires a balance between the macronutrients and the “micronutrients” (such as vitamins and minerals, which the body needs in smaller amounts).
2. How does the body use protein?
The body uses proteins to: create and repair tissues; build enzymes, chemicals, and hormones; every cell in your body is in fact made up of proteins; and it is also the building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood.
3. List at least three features shared by the various popular diet plans discussed in this section.
Since I don’t know which diet plans you’ve discussed, I’ll just list some the most common features that most healthy diet plans have in common: a good balance of nutrients, prefer organic food rather than ready/frozen food filled with chemicals and preservatives, and add a healthy lifestyle.
4. Name and describe a category of vegetarianism.
A branch of vegetarianism is Veganism. A vegan does not eat any products that derive from animals, for example: milk, cheese, butter, eggs, etc. as a step forward to vegetarianism which simply cuts meat and fish out of the diet. Vegans though need to replace those nutrients from products that are organic a non-animal-derivate such as soy, for example.