complete proteins
All amino acids
Complete proteins contain all nine essential amino acids—the ones the human body cannot synthesize and must obtain from food.
Most animal proteins are complete: meat, fish, eggs, dairy.
Most plant proteins are incomplete, lacking sufficient amounts of one or more essential amino acids, though quinoa and soy are notable exceptions.
Combining incomplete proteins (rice and beans) can provide the full amino acid profile.
Edible seed from Andes
- soybeansProtein-rich Asian legume
- eggsReproductive cells in shells
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- meatAnimal tissue for food
poultry · tofu · tempeh · buckwheat · hemp seeds · chia seeds · spirulina · edamame
Essential amino acid
- methionineSulfur-bearing essential amino-acid
- histidineAmino acid, essential early
- isoleucineEssential branched-chain amino acid
- leucineEssential branched-chain amino acid
phenylalanine · threonine · tryptophan · valine · essential amino acids · muscle repair · bioavailability · digestibility
Edible pod-bearing plants
- grainsSmall hard seeds
- rice and beansTwo staple foods combined
- food pairingCombining complementary flavors
- peanut butter sandwichGround legume spread on bread
quinoa
Edible seed from Andes
meat · poultry · tofu · tempeh · buckwheat · hemp seeds · chia seeds · spirulina · edamame · dairy
lysine
Essential amino acid
- methionineSulfur-bearing essential amino-acid
- histidineAmino acid, essential early
- isoleucineEssential branched-chain amino acid
leucine · phenylalanine · threonine · tryptophan · valine · essential amino acids · muscle repair · bioavailability · digestibility · absorption
legumes
Edible pod-bearing plants
- grainsSmall hard seeds
- rice and beansTwo staple foods combined
- food pairingCombining complementary flavors
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