The main difference between a protein and a carbohydrate molecule is the presence of nitrogen within the protein molecule, carbohydrates contain only carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. All protein and carbohydrates are formed by the plant kingdom.
All amino acids require nitrogen for their development.
All animals must rely on plant life for their nutrition. Some plants such as grains and legumes store good amounts of both amino acids and carbohydrates. Fruits and vegetables store mainly carbohydrates. For adults, there are eight essential amino acids, children need 10 amino acids to be supplied with their diet. On the following pages there is a list of all the essential amino acids and their associated bodily functions.