Proteins For Well Equipped Balanced Diet

Proteins supply the building material for the body and also help in the wear and tear of tissues. Hence, they are called the “Body building foods.” Also they are important nutrients required for all living beings. In our body, many Enzymes, those are required to help in the digestion of food, and antibodies that form the defense mechanisms against infections are all protein in nature. Hence, Proteins are one of the most important nutrients that should constitute in a balanced diet. Proteins are mostly made up of essential amino acids.

Therefore, the biological value i.e. the nutritional quality of the proteins is essential in a diet.

What Are Proteins Made Up Of?

Whey protein is a collection of globular proteins and is a by-product of Cheese making from cow’s milk. Cheese is made using either an enzyme named Rennet or acidifying milk by using lime or vinegar. On heating the milk gets curdled and when it is filtered the liquid thus acquired is Whey. This is high in Protein and contains many calories. It also has the highest biological value. Whey can be de-natured by prolonged heating. Whey protein is of 3 types: 1. Concentrates 2. Isolates 3.Hydrolysate.Concentrates are low in fat and cholesterol but is high in bioactive compounds. Isolates are processed to remove fat and lactose so lower in bioactive compounds. Hydrolysates are pre-digested i.e. partially hydrolyzed which are easily absorbed but are expensive.

An excess amount of protein present in the urine is called as Proteinuria or Urine protein. In this the urine becomes foamy because of presence of proteins in it. It can be checked by a simple dipstick test but a better option is to undergo Protein Electrophoresis. Proteinuria is mainly caused because of renal/kidney failure. Generally serum products are readily reabsorbed from urine but the presence of these indicates insufficient absorption or impaired filtration. With severe proteinuria, hypoproteinuria can develop which results in less oncotic pressure.

Foods containing high amounts of proteins are categorized as high protein foods. A few examples of high protein foods are chicken, beef, fish, pork and eggs in the non-vegetarian category and beans, nuts and seeds, whole pulses, soybean, milk and milk products in the vegetarian category. All the protein foods contain essential amino acids but their distribution is good in non-vegetarian category. So, they form good quality proteins where as in proteins of plant origin they are not well distributed in their amino acids pattern. For eg: In cereals lysine is poor and in pulses methionine is poor but is good in lysine. Hence, a judicious selection of the foods can contribute to the daily requirement of the proteins. Also, proteins should be easily digestible. Therefore the nutritive value of any proteins depends on their essential amino aid composition and its digestibility.

Many varieties of Protein Supplements are available in the market. Some of them are powders like soy powder, whey powder, proteinex, Megamas and biscuits like threptin and soymilk, tofu etc. Apart from these many more products are available in the market. One should choose according to their requirement.

Is Casein Protein Good For Weight Loss?

Casein is a protein that is found in milk. Casein protein is high quality protein but more importantly, it also has weight loss properties. It is a well known fact that the body needs protein to build muscle and to burn fat. It is recommended to use casein protein to lose weight as casein protein helps to fight the breakdown of muscle. Casein also contains amino acids which help with weight loss, by building muscle and also help the body’s metabolism to function well. Casein protein for weight loss can be taken in the form of finely grained powder that has to be mixed with water.

Which Has More Protein Egg Yolk Or Egg Whites?

Which has more protein, egg yolk or egg whites? Studies have shown that the protein in egg yolk is less than the protein in egg whites. The protein in egg yolk is just one of the many nutrients the yolk of an egg contains. Egg yolks also contain essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins. People generally consider eating the white of an egg as it is one of the best sources of protein. However the protein in egg whites may be of a better quality than the protein in egg yolk, but it is essential to eat the complete or whole egg for best results. The entire egg is beneficial if you are looking at it as a source of protein.

Is Soy Protein Better Than Whey?

Is soy protein better than whey protein? This debate seems to never end, but let us look at some soy protein health benefits. Soy protein health benefits include lowering cholesterol, preventing the development of certain cancers (colon and prostrate), as well as the development of osteoporosis. Soy protein advantages also include better cardiovascular health. Studies have also shown that soy protein can help women cope with the different symptoms of menopause. Now that we know about soy protein health benefits, let us look at some of the sources of this soy protein. These include soy milk, tofu, soy flour, tempeh and miso.

Submitted on January 16, 2014