What is the principal structural function of proteins in the human body?
Answer
Proteins are essential for the growth, maintenance, and repair of tissues throughout the body.
Proteins are fundamentally recognized as the body's building blocks. Their most significant role is structural, involving the creation, upkeep, and mending of various tissues, including muscles, skin, and organs. While carbohydrates and fats are the primary fuel sources, protein is not typically relied upon as a primary energy source; its role in constructing and maintaining bodily structures is far more significant. Chemically, these structures are formed from smaller units called amino acids, nine of which must be obtained externally through diet.
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