Everybody who has spent any time at all fasting from food, or who has even skipped a meal, understands first hand the amount of time we save when we are not concerned with preparing and consuming meals. Certainly, efficiency isn't our only concern when talking about cooking and consuming. If we were to make a list of our major requirements for food, we would probably come up with the following: (1) it must provide the proteins, nutrients our bodies need (2) it needs to be provide for our body transformation goals (e.g. lose fat or gain muscle) (3) it has to taste good (4) it must be easy to prepare and serve. Foods that meet two or three of these requirements will probably become a staple in most eating plans.
A recent development in nutrition research called ‘capsulized food’ aims to go above these needs. Pennsylvania-based Protica Research is the first of what will likely be many companies working in this innovative food industry. Among other development projects on their agenda, Protica Research creates liquid foods that are ultra-compact, nutrient-dense, and above all else, very palatable. Their premier product, Profect®, provides 25 grams of protein and the total spectrum of water-soluble vitamins in less than three fluid ounces. This on-the-go nutrition has some consumers re-thinking their typical eating habits. An examination of the four fundamental requirements for food will help understand the reason for this excitement.
NUTRIENT DENSITY
It's our first concern when it comes to eating. While it is not always the first thing we think of when we reach for food, it is the primary reason we eat. There are a lot of nutrient-rich and nutrient-poor foods available to us, and we must always consume the necessary quantities of nutrient-rich foods for the sake of our health, well-being and energy level.
The challenge is that nutrient-rich foods-such as milk, eggs, fish, and chicken-are not typically near at hand. Snacks, junk food and fast food normally is. It usually takes too much effort for a busy person to prepare a proper meal, and so we end up reaching for something less appropriate. This can hurt us over a period of time as our immune system and energy levels suffer. Long term studies have shown that many of the so-called ‘junk food junkies’ and ‘fast food addicts’ would prefer eating nutritionally sound foods if they were within arm’s reach.
SUPPORTING BODY TRANSFORMATION GOALS
For many of us, we keep a careful eye on the foods we consume. Either we are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or retain what we have. Whether we are browsing the aisles of the grocery store or a restaurant menu, we find ourselves looking for foods that will help us achieve these goals.
For some people, low-carbohydrate foods are the first items on their shopping list. These consumers are knowledgeable of the health risks and weight gain connected with consuming carbohydrate-dense foods. For others, low-fat foods are the order of the day. Still other people seek out a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
The one thing all of these diets have in common is protein, combined with the necessary micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.
While it's possible to maintain a healthy meal that includes vitamins and protein without fat or carbohydrates if you are cooking at home, it is much more difficult to do that in a compact transportable meal. Manufacturers like EAS and Protica Research provide high protein beverages to provide for any transformation goals. Protica’s Profect contains a full 25 grams of protein and the entire spectrum of water-soluble vitamins. The important point for people concerned about their diet, however, is that all of these nutrients come minus the cost of fat and carbohydrates. This lets your body to maintain health and energy without harming you with pointless carbohydrates or fat.
TASTE
For most of us, the taste of a product is how we determine if we include it in our regular diet. No amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals can overcome a poor taste. Food manufacturers have learned this lesson well in recent years, as many nutritious products have been removed from supermarket shelves because of bland taste. As consumer demands have continued to rise, a wide variety of delicious and nutrient packed food products have come onto the market. Capitalizing on this fact, Protica Research developed a line of flavors for its capsulized protein beverage that target age groups from adolescents to seniors. Double-blind taste tests have shown that the taste profile of Profect is indistinguishable from non-carbonated fruit drinks on the market.
CONVENIENCE
Periodically, maybe even every day, we want to sit down in the kitchen at the
table and enjoy a meal among family or friends. Capsulized food isn't meant to replace this important ritual, and it's not meant to replace fresh foods. The reality of living in the 21st century is that so many people spend their day working, and this means cooking and gardening are out of the question. This can be said for work-at-home moms as well as business executives putting in long hours at the office.
This frenzied lifestyle doesn't blend well with consuming nutritious meals. The challenge of finding time for a proper meal has led many people to rely on compact snack or junk foods that they can stash in their pocketbook or briefcase. These compact foods are now a mainstay of the American diet because they are portable and can be consumed immediately. However we quite often find that the portability, and as a result the convenience, of these foods creates it's own problem. The traditional convenience foods that we find in supermarkets and convenience stores are not usually packaged with rough transportation in mind. The packaging of some food and beverage products inadvertently break open when they've been in a bag or a purse for awhile.
Another widespread complaint surfaces when the packaging is opened. The majority of convenience foods-meal replacement bars, for example-are sticky or crumbly. You might also find yourself dying for water to wash them down. The definition of convenience is that nothing else is required, not even napkins or water.
While being portable and easy to eat are two characteristics that we have come to look for in a convenient food, these traits are many times illusive.
Protica Research provides two unique ideas when it comes to convenience. First, their Profect protein beverage is a liquid--and weighs less than three fluid ounces--which means that you can promptly and without difficulty consume it even while you are on the go. Second, Profect takes portability to a new level by packaging it in a patent-pending, virtually unbreakable container. This means that it can be taken absolutely anywhere you go, and you won't need to worry about your meal ending up all over your backpack or briefcase.
HOW TO MEET OUR MODERN NUTRITION NEEDS
The advent of health-consciousness has come at a time when our lifestyles are more and more frenzied. This means that people are looking for a healthy, nourishing, and portable food that is quick and easy to consume. In order to meet this demand, the food manufacturers are required to adapt and respond. Companies like Protica Research are developing capsulized foods that will provide on-the-go nutrition that is easier to transport, more convenient and more palatable than its predecessors.
Author Resource:
About Protica Research
Founded in 2001, Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect (www.profect.com), IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. One area of specialty is the manufacturing of Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for renal care patients.
You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com - Copyright - Protica Research
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