2016 Articles

Non-Communicable Diseases, Food Systems and the Sustainable Development Goals

Fanzo, Jessica C.

The requirement of humans for protein represents on average 10–35% of the daily caloric intake. According to the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) issued by the Institute of Medicine of the US Food and Nutrition Board,1 adults need to eat about 60 grams of protein per day. The typical diet of the Western world contains more protein than is strictly necessary, while in developing countries and emerging economies, the supply of high-quality protein is still insufficient. Protein is mainly found in meats from poultry, pork and beef, in fish, eggs and dairy products (cheese and milk), but also in vegetable sources such as legumes (soya, beans), grains, nuts and seeds, and also in certain vegetables. Protein that comes from animal sources is in general nutritionally more complete, because it contains the essential amino acids in a more adequate pattern than is the case with plant proteins.