Exposing the Best Source of Protein Myth

An American culture that is marked by a chronic lack of time and the need to achieve is often in pursuit of the "best" something or other. These "best" lists tend to improve time efficiency they help people make quick decisions without a lot of research or "trial and error".

However, as with most inventions, there is a potentially harmful application of these very popular "best" lists. There are situations where the need to identify the best of something obscures the real truth that, quite simply, there is no single best ranking. In other words, the best of something is in reality a combination of many things. Within the world of nutrition, there arguably is not a more clear ? and dangerous ? expression of this truth then in looking at protein.

The world of nutrition is not short on "best" opinions for sources of protein. Some camps lobby in favor of whey protein as the best, while others advocate soy. Some claim that meat and poultry are the best source of protein, while others swear that a plant-based item such as spirulina ranks at the top. There are so many opinions ? each one claiming to support the best source of protein ? that consumers are often left less informed after reading a few of them, rather than more educated.

One of the reasons that the search for the best source of protein is so widespread is because of its critical importance within a healthy diet. All bodily functions are aided, directly or indirectly, by protein. In addition to being an essential energy source, protein is a component of every body cell, and among other vital contributions, helps in the creation, maintenance, and repair of muscle tissue[i].

Furthermore, it is widely accepted ? regardless of view on the "best" source of protein ? that a complete source of protein is required by all people, regardless of athleticism or mobility. This complete source of protein must reflect all 20 different amino acids that comprise protein. Since the body can only create 12 of them through its own synthetic production capacity, 8 amino acids ? called "essential amino acids" -- must be obtained through diet[ii].

This is where the confusion ultimately lies, and the root cause of the ongoing confusion. Various groups claim that certain specific food sources, such as whey, milk protein, or calcium caseinate[1], respectively, is the single best source of protein. Surprisingly, however, a growing body of research is suggesting that that all of these views are incorrect. Rather, a variety of protein sources is proving to be the best.

Unfortunately, accessing this variety of protein sources is a challenge for many consumers. Unless a consumer is very well versed in nutrition, possibly to the point of being considered an expert, he or she cannot confidently know if the variety of proteins are being eaten in any particular meal.

Furthermore, some sources of protein ? such as fast food burgers ? may indeed contain a desired amount of essential amino acids, but the excessively high amount of calories, unsaturated fats, carbohydrates, and other unwanted elements make them a thoroughly unwise eating choice [iii].

The goal ? one that has been sought for decades -- is therefore to identify a food source that provides consumers with a healthy, convenient, inexpensive, appetizing, and complete source of protein.

Fortunately, despite significant delays in bringing a worthy product to the consumer marketplace ? delays due to the scientifically pointless search for the single best source of protein -- there are some innovative nutritional supplements that are achieving this goal. These products offer consumers a complete amino acid profile derived from a combined mix of protein sources. Some of these evolved products ? albeit a very limited number of them -- are even able to meet the other consumer criterion: convenience, affordability, palatability, low-calorie, and high nutritional (e.g. vitamin enriched) content.

American health dialogue will continue to be populated with "best" lists, and in many ways, these lists are quite useful timesaving devices. However, there are obvious situations where the relentless pursuit of the "best" of something can actually cause more harm than good when there is, in fact, no "best" of something to speak of. In the world of protein and diet, this is clearly the case: there is no single best source of protein. Only a balanced mix of protein sources will achieve the goal of delivering the body's critical protein requirements. Fortunately, more nutrition experts are starting to acknowledge this scientific truth, and it is a trend towards intelligent health that is expected to continue.

About Protica

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com.

[1] Calcium caseinate is created via the acidification of skim milk.

References

[i] Source: "Protein in Diet". DiscoveryHealth.com. http://health.discovery.com/encyclopedias/1931.html

[ii] Source: "Essential Amino Acid". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_amino_acid

[iii] Source: "Supersized Nation: Bigger Burgers Still Rule". WebMD. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/98/104952.htm?action=related_link

Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com

---

How to Pick a Trainer ?

Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More

There is No Miracle Cure for Arthritis, but Improving Your Diet can Help

Arthritis - if you suffer from this illness, I don't... Read More

The Danger of Curbing Hunger Artificially

Unhealthy eating is a harmful problem in America, and contrary... Read More

What is Organic Farming?

Organic farming is the production of food using all natural... Read More

Compulsive Eating Alternative: Learning to Eat With Pleasure

Do you allow pleasure from food? Are your senses throughly... Read More

The Non-Diet Diet

Diets don't work. If they did the U.S. of A.... Read More

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

Essential Fatty Acids are oils, omega-3 and omega-6, that you... Read More

How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

I'm always amazed at how many people seem to know... Read More

Gift Basket Idea for Senior Citizens

Evidence for the importance of fruit and vegetable intake to... Read More

Natural Foods Defined

With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More

Let Your Freezer Be Your Ally!

Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More

The Minefield Of Eating Out On A Gluten Free Diet

Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More

Olive Oil -Not Just for Popeye

Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More

Water And Good Hydration

The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More

How to Stop Bad Breath In 4 Refreshing Steps

OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More

The In-Office Emergency Nutritional Kit

Tired of having stare-downs with those boxes of Krispy Kremes,... Read More

The Macronutrient Balancing Act

Finally, dieters and healthy eaters everywhere have reason to rejoice,... Read More

Inactive Alert: Essential Proteins for Sedentary People

The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More

Startling New Evidence: You Can Slow the Aging Process, Scientists Say

What if you could actually slow your rate of aging,... Read More

Omega 3 Fat is Good for Your Heart and for Your Brain

Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More

The Benefits of Iodine

Initially discovered as a new element in 1811 by Barnard... Read More

Functional Foods: What They Are And How They Work

In the brain, a typical protein can live for approximately... Read More

Tips to Avoid Trans Fats Hidden In Food

Recently, trans fats have risen to the forefront of the... Read More

Immunity and the Immune System

Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More

Water, The Magical Drink

Glowing skin comes free of charge to you. Our simple... Read More

Turn to Diet for Everyday Ailments

The old cliché that you are what you eat is... Read More

Fruits for Summer: Summer Skin Care

Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More

5 Tips To Lower Your Cholesterol

Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: What are They, Really?

"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More

Chew Your Food

I am going to share with you possibly the most... Read More

Redeeming Unsaturated Fat

The most dreaded word in many dieter's vocabulary is 'fat'.... Read More

Boost Your Immune System

The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More

Lesser of Two Evils: Splenda or Equal?

While packages of the artificial sweetener Splenda claim, "made from... Read More