Protein

• Protein is needed primarily for growth and repair of the body, but if eaten in excess of these requirements, it may also be used as a source of energy.  1g of protein provides 4kcal of energy.
• Protein is made up of amino acids.  Some of these are essential and cannot be manufactured by the body from other chemicals. 
• Animal sources of protein (such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy products) generally contain all the essential amino acids, whereas plant sources (like nuts, seeds, pulses and cereals) often lack some of these.  It is important for vegetarians to have a wide range of plant protein sources to ensure that they receive the full range of nutrients.
• There is no GDA for protein, but the majority of the population consumes far in excess of the body's requirements and so a significant proportion is used for energy.