The American way of life that is frequently marked by it's unceasing lack of time and the demand to achieve is habitually in pursuit of the “Best” of everything. The people of America never seem to have ample time, they are forever in a rush, and they are frequently searching for the "Best" of something. These “Best” lists tend to help increase their time efficiency since they help people to formulate swift decisions without lots of research or “trial and error”. The result of usually being hurried to find the "Best" one thing or another is that you quickly learn how to save time and make rapid, educated choices without being required to do a lot of research and "testing".
But, like most inventions, there is a potentially harmful use of these very popular “Best” lists. There are circumstances where the necessity to identify the best of one thing or another covers up the real truth that, quite simply, there's no single best ranking. In other words, the best of one thing or another is actually a combination of many things. Withinthe realm of nutrition, there arguably is not a more distinct – and treacherous – expression of this truth then in looking at protein.
The realm of nutrition isn't short on “Best” opinions for sources of protein. Some camps petition in favor of whey protein as the best, while others are in favor of soy. Some assert that meat and poultry are the best source of protein, whereas others insist that a plant based item such as spirulina should be listed at the top. There are such a lot of opinions – each one claiming to support the best source of protein – that buyers are usually left less informed after reading a few of them, instead of better educated.
One of the reasons that the search for the best supply of protein is so widespread is due to its important significance within a healthy diet. All bodily functions are aided, directly or indirectly, by protein. In addition to being a necessary energy source, protein is a element of each body cell, and among other vital contributions, helps in the creation, maintenance, and repair of muscle tissue[i].
Moreover, it's generally acknowledged – no matter view on the “Best” supply of protein – that a total source of protein is required by all individuals, irrespective of athleticism or mobility. This complete supply of protein must reflect all 20 completely different amino acids that comprise protein. Since the body can only create twelve 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 mix-up eventually lies, and the root reason behind the continuing confusion. Various teams declare that certain specific food sources, such as whey, milk protein, or calcium caseinate[1], respectively, is the only best supply of protein. Astonishingly, however, a growing body of research is beginning to suggest that every one of these views are incorrect. Instead, a combination of protein sources is proving to be the best.
Sadly, accessing this selection of protein sources may be a challenge for many consumers. Unless a consumer is terribly well versed in nutrition, possibly to the point of being thought of as a professional, she or he cannot confidently know if the variety of proteins are being eaten in any particular meal.
Moreover, some sources of protein – like fast food hamburgers – may indeed contain a desired amount of essential amino acids, however the terribly high quantity of calories, unsaturated fats, carbohydrates, and other unwanted elements make them a completely unwise eating choice [iii].
The goal – one that's been sought after for years -- is then to find a food source that provides consumers with a nutritionally sound, convenient, inexpensive, delicious, and complete source of protein. For decades the objective has been to provide consumers with a food source that answers the following needs - it must be healthy, convenient, inexpensive, tasty, and a complete source of protein.
Luckily, in spite of significant delays in bringing a worthy product to the consumer marketplace – delays due to the scientifically pointless quest for the single best source of protein -- there are some pioneering nutritional supplements that are meeting those goals. These products offer consumers a complete amino acid profile resulting from a combined mix of protein sources. Some of these evolved products – even though it's a very small number of them -- are even capable of meeting the other consumer needs: convenience: they're convenient, affordability: they're economical, palatability: they're delicious, low-calorie: they are low in calories, and high nutrition: vitamin enriched content.
American health dialogue will continue to be populated with “Best” lists, and in some ways, these lists are very effective timesaving devices. On the other hand, there are obvious situations where the persistent pursuit of the “Best” of something can in fact
do more harm than good when there is, in actuality, no “Best” of something or other to point to. In the realm of protein and diet, this is undoubtedly the case: there is no single best source of protein. Only a balanced mix of protein sources will succeed at delivering the body’s important protein requirements. Luckily, far more nutrition experts are beginning to concede this scientific truth, and it is a trend towards intelligent health that is expected to continue.
[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
[iii] Source: “Supersized Nation: Bigger Burgers Still Rule”. WebMD. http://my.webmd.com/content/article/98/104952.htm?action=related_link
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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 liquid protein for cancer patients.
You can learn more about Protica at www.protica.com - Copyright - Protica Research
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