Loading... Please wait...Why are proteins important? Proteins are made up of amino acids which form the basic building blocks of life. They play extremely important roles in the body including the repair of cells, muscles and bones; provision of energy; regulation of metabolic processes and are a necessary part of our immune system. These amino acids are either essential or non-essential. Non-essential amino acids can be synthesized by the body while essential amino acids must be obtained from diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.