Exposing the best source of protein - myth
by Hamoon
Arbabi
zone3
Fitness. 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 THE AUTHOR
For more information about Whey proteins, Multivitamins, Antioxidants
and Ceatines go to.
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