Protein is the major building block for the body.
It is the primary component of muscle and is essential for the formation of all cells. Protein is also critical for optimum immune function and, if deprived of protein, the body is more susceptible to infection and disease. Anyone who is recovering from surgery, a wound, or burn may require more protein to promote tissue repair during healing. Proteins used by the body are made up of several different amino acids. The body is capable of making some of the amino acids, not all of them.