What is the term for proteins that are ingested as food?

The term for proteins that are ingested as food is nutritional proteins. These proteins are essential macronutrients found in various dietary sources, such as meat, dairy, legumes, and nuts. They provide the building blocks for the body's amino acids, which are crucial for many physiological functions. When consumed, nutritional proteins are broken down during digestion into their constituent amino acids, which the body utilizes for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues, as well as for the synthesis of hormones and enzymes.

Other types of proteins mentioned, such as structural proteins, functional proteins, and enzymatic proteins, refer to specific roles or functions of proteins within the body, rather than categorizing them based on their source in the diet. For example, structural proteins, like collagen and keratin, provide support and structure to cells and tissues. Functional proteins serve various roles such as transport and signaling, while enzymatic proteins (enzymes) catalyze biochemical reactions. However, these classifications differ from the general dietary context implied by nutritional proteins.