Why is protein so important.

Just wondering. I can't eat protein powder so I'm not sure if I meet my daily protein requirements. Will this matter in the long term.?

Yes, this will matter in the long term.  Protein intake is very important so that your body burns fat and not muscles.

Yes!  Many reasons -- I'm not a doctor, but this is what I know:

You need protein to keep your muscle (or build more)

Muscle burns more than fat -- and looks better too :)

Protein keeps you fuller and doesn't cause cravings like carbs do

Your body needs things that it cannot make itself. It cannot make vitamins -- that was the original definition of vitamins, before it got more complicated. You need a small amount of dietary fat each day, that your body can't get any other way. We need to get calcium from food or supplements, or our body will take it from our bones to support more important uses.

Protein is made up of amino acids, and there are essential amino acids that must be eaten. If you don't, your body will break down your muscles to get those amino acids. Once it has used skeletal muscles, it will start using heart muscle. Not a good thing.

Carbohydrates are nothing but energy. We need zero carbs, because we have lots of energy stored in fat. That's what body fat is for. 

Why no protein powder?  I don't do whey at all and I use egg and beef protein powder.  Those are not bad options, either.

Also, depending on how far you are post-op, you absolutely should be able to get all your protein from diet.  I would definitely measure and track.