Significance

• Your body will not produce or store protein, so you need to eat it on a regular basis to replenish essential amino acids your body uses.
  
  

Types

• There are four main sources of dietary protein: meat, dairy, beans and grains. Eating a variety of proteins helps ensure you are getting all the necessary amino acids.
  
  

Meat

• Lean meats are best, like fish, skinless white-meat chicken and lean beef. The less fat in the meat, the better it will be for you.
  
  

Dairy

• Protein is also found in dairy products such as milk, yogurt and eggs. These are a good option for vegetarians.
  
  

Beans

• Many beans are large and starchy, like kidney beans and lima beans. Lentils are a better protein source because they are highly concentrated.
  
  

Grains

• Rice, when combined with beans, makes a complete protein, with all the essential amino acids. Quinoa is another grain that contains a variety of amino acids.