Protein is a macronutrient found in most foods. Like carbohydrates and fat, protein can also provide energy, but the best use of protein is in cell building and repair. Eating enough protein is important for building muscle mass, immune cells, organs, bones, and connective tissue in your body.

Diving a little deeper, proteins are made up of smaller components called amino acids. We can make many proteins by breaking chains of amino acids during the digestive process and remaking them into proteins. However, 9 of the 22 amino acids (known as the essential amino acids) required to build proteins can only be obtained from food.