By Jim Duffy
You see them in all kinds of magazines. You hear people talking about them around the water cooler at work. There are hundreds of fad diets out there, and guess what? None of them work. Oh sure, you may lose a bit of weight, but more often than not, that weight is just going to come back, with a few additional pounds for good measure. The most sensible way to lose weight is to just eat properly. It is easy to follow a healthy, well-balanced diet, and there are all kinds of great-tasting foods that you can incorporate into a healthy diet.
An essential part of any diet is protein. Protein is necessary for survival, provides a natural source of energy and helps to build strong muscles. Our hair and skin are made from protein, and it is a nutrient for all of the cells in our bodies. Not enough protein in the diet can lead to a number of serious health issues and can add complications to existing health conditions. But as important as it is to have enough protein in our diets, too much may actually do more harm than good.
The body needs a certain amount of protein. According to the American Heart Association, protein should make up 35 percent of our daily caloric intake. If the body does not get the protein it needs, it will send signals to the brain that it is hungry, which is not good for dieters, because they will want to eat all the time. Eating snacks that are rich in protein or using protein supplements will help to suppress your appetite, which is essential for losing weight and maintaining your weight loss.
How Much Protein Do You Need in Your Diet?
We need different amounts of protein at different stages of our lives. For example, babies need quite a bit of protein, about 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. But an adult bodybuilder only needs as much as 1.6 grams. The best way to figure out how much protein you should be getting in your diet is to follow this formula:
The first thing you need to do is convert your body weight from pounds to kilograms. Just divide your body weight in pounds by 2.2. Take the resulting number and divide it by one of the following numbers:
- .4 if you are inactive
- .5-.8 if you are somewhat active, such as a 30 minute workout, three times per week
- .8-1 if you are very active, such as working out 30 to 60 minutes at least four times each week
If you are a healthy person in general and have some knowledge about nutrition, you should be able to come up with a healthy diet plan on your own. It is important to remember that before beginning any type of diet, you should consult your physician first. There may be conditions that you have that require you to have certain foods in your diet. You can also speak with a nutritionist or a dietitian.
If you are going to start a diet, a healthy plan includes 50 percent carbohydrates, 35 percent proteins and 15 percent fats. Although many of today's popular diets recommend eating fewer carbohydrates, it is important that some are included in everyone's diet, but they do need to be the right kinds of carbohydrates. For example, simple carbohydrates digest quickly and cause huge surges by raising blood sugar levels. Complex carbohydrates are what you need in your diet. These carbohydrates are slower to digest and do not negatively affect blood sugar levels.
Eating Healthy and Using Protein Supplements
When you eat snacks that are high in protein, you will not have the urge to have more snacks later on. You will feel more satisfied and not feel the urge to eat unnecessarily. Some high-protein snacks that are great for diets and taste great are:
- 2 cups of popcorn with trail mix
- cup of fiber-rich cereal, mixed with non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 ounce of baked potato chips with two tablespoons of bean dip
Another great-tasting snack that is extremely high in protein is milk. Non-fat is best for dieters, and low-fat chocolate milk is great too. It has all the same nutrients as white milk not much more fat and calories. It is delicious, and not only will you get the protein that you need, you can also satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Some people suggest drinking low-fat milk, while other studies say that whole-fat milk is best for diets. Speak to your physician or nutritionist for more information.
Another way that you can get the protein you need in your diet without having to eat a lot is by using protein supplements. There are a number of varieties available, and many come in pre-mixed drinks, which are portable and can be taken along anywhere. Some of the more popular protein supplements include:
Protein Powders - These are the most versatile of all of the protein supplements. They come in a variety of delicious flavors, including chocolate, vanilla, berry and fruit punch, and can be used to make great-tasting smoothies and shakes. They are also available in flavorless forms and can be added to just about any recipe.
Liquid Proteins - Liquid protein supplements are very popular because they are often available in a ready-to-drink form. One of the more popular liquid protein supplements on the market today is Profect, by Protica. This little shot provides 25 grams of protein per 2.9 fluid ounces of serving and only contains 100 calories. Profect is low in calories, carbohydrates and fats, and it comes in a number of delicious flavors, including Blue Raspberry, Fresh Citrus Berry, Grapefruit-Mango and Cool Melon Splash.
Protein Bars - These are delicious, protein-packed snacks that can also serve as meal replacements. Protein bars come in a number of flavors, including chocolate, and often have nuts and other great-tasting ingredients.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures http://www.profect.com IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for weight loss surgery patients. You can learn more at http://www.protica.com
Showing posts with label liquid protein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label liquid protein. Show all posts
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
How Nutrition Can Affect Cardiovascular Health
By Jim Duffy
The last decade has seen deaths related to cardiovascular causes drop by 40% and deaths related to stroke drop by 35%. Yet there are only 16% fewer smokers and less than 3% fewer people defined as obese. There are two things that affect overall cardiovascular health - behavior and factors. Defining both and finding a good personal level between each are the keys to good cardiovascular health.
Behaviors
There are a number of behaviors that the American Heart Association deems important for good cardiovascular health, including exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, getting the proper amount of exercise, and avoiding smoking.
Factors
Good cardiovascular factors include keeping your blood pressure at an optimal level, as well as keeping a decent blood sugar and cholesterol level. The AHA has set a range these numbers should remain between, and it's best when it can be done without medication.
Organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Diabetic Association, and the American Cancer Association used to focus solely on their individual diseases, but they have recently come to realize that is not enough. Central to keeping disease away is the concept of keeping healthy overall. There are many behaviors that help not only cardiovascular health, but every part of the body, for both adults and children, including:
(Not) Smoking
- Adults: If you are a smoker, quit as soon as possible. The sooner you quit, the better your health will be in the long run. It doesn't take long for your lungs to return to their old level of functionality, which means less chance of not only lung disease, but heart disease.
- Children: If you never start, you'll never have to quit - and quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things to do.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Adults: The American Heart Association has guidelines on what a healthy weight is for every person. This weight should be maintained by a balanced, healthy diet, not a fad diet or the latest thing that takes off a lot of weight at once (which will only return once the fad ends). These diets can often be dangerous, because they provide too much of some nutrients while eschewing others, ending up with most of the weight loss being loss of water weight. The best way to lose weight is slowly and steadily, using a sensible diet.
- Children: Activity is the goal for children. There should be an hour, at least, of physical activity each day. And, of course, a healthy diet is ideal. Each day should also include a period where there are no televisions, computers, or video games.
Diet
- Adults: Abundant fruits and vegetables are important, as is completely avoiding fried foods. Cut down on salt and try to eat only healthy fats. Your protein sources should be lean meat and plant sources. When it comes to plain-based proteins, soy is the only one considered complete.
- Children: Do not force children to clean their plates and give them portions that are smaller.
The Basics of a Healthy Diet
All food is composed of a combination of the three macro-nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Any healthy diet will include all three. The good carbohydrates are complex carbohydrates. The fats should also come from healthy sources. Protein can be derived from both plants and animals, but any animal-based sources of protein should be lean. Protein supplements can be a great part of a heart-healthy diet. The recommendation of the American Heart Association is that about 35% of most diets should be protein, with most of the rest devoted to carbohydrates.
Animal-Based Sources of Protein
Animal-based proteins are considered complete, since they have all eight of the essential amino acids that the human body cannot produce. The best sources are the lean ones like turkey and chicken. Eggs and low-fat dairy foods are another excellent source for protein. Red meat, however, should be limited in the diet.
Plant-Based Sources of Protein
Virtually all plant-based sources of protein are incomplete, with soy being the only exception. Soy is the only one to have all eight essential amino acids. Vegetarians and vegans can still get all the proteins necessary by eating combinations of these foods.
Protein Supplements
Protein supplements come in many forms, including protein powders, bars, and liquid protein supplement shots. These are all made from natural sources of protein, either plant or animal-based, which means you will have to make good choices. They all contain different amounts of protein, but some have extra fats or sugars which should be avoided.
Whey
Whey protein is produced as a byproduct of cheese production. Whey protein powder has two basic varieties: the cheaper concentrate (containing about 30% to 85% protein) and the more expensive isolate (containing 90%) protein. Whey protein isolate has a smaller lactose content, which means it can be used by most lactose intolerant people.
Soy
Just two servings of soy protein each day can lower the level of blood cholesterol by as much as nine points. It can also lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Soy also comes in both concentrated and isolated forms and is easy to digest. Vegans and vegetarians can take soy protein without any problems.
Egg
Egg protein comes from the white of the egg, which is a perfect protein. This is the standard by which all other forms of protein are judged.
Rice
These proteins come from brown rice and have all eight of the essential amino acids, making it complete. Rice is also hypoallergenic, making it ideal for anyone who has food allergies or food sensitivities. Vegans and vegetarians can also use rice protein without compromising.
Profect
Profect is a liquid protein supplement shot. Only 2.9 fluid ounces in size, it only contains 100 calories, no fat, and no carbohydrates. It contains 25 grams of protein and helps to suppress the appetite while providing a good deal of the protein you will need for the day.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates have gotten a bad reputation over the last several years, but the truth is that carbohydrates are a large part of a healthy diet - or at least this is the case with complex carbohydrates. Foods like whole great breads and pastas, certain fruits and vegetables, and other such foods are high in complex carbohydrates. On the other hand, simple carbohydrates are not healthy at all.
Fats
There are even healthy fats that should be a part of a healthy diet. These should be about 20% of the calories you consume every day. Things like fatty fish, olive oil, and avocados are high in healthy fats.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for cancer patients. You can learn more at http://www.protica.com
The last decade has seen deaths related to cardiovascular causes drop by 40% and deaths related to stroke drop by 35%. Yet there are only 16% fewer smokers and less than 3% fewer people defined as obese. There are two things that affect overall cardiovascular health - behavior and factors. Defining both and finding a good personal level between each are the keys to good cardiovascular health.
Behaviors
There are a number of behaviors that the American Heart Association deems important for good cardiovascular health, including exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, getting the proper amount of exercise, and avoiding smoking.
Factors
Good cardiovascular factors include keeping your blood pressure at an optimal level, as well as keeping a decent blood sugar and cholesterol level. The AHA has set a range these numbers should remain between, and it's best when it can be done without medication.
Organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Diabetic Association, and the American Cancer Association used to focus solely on their individual diseases, but they have recently come to realize that is not enough. Central to keeping disease away is the concept of keeping healthy overall. There are many behaviors that help not only cardiovascular health, but every part of the body, for both adults and children, including:
(Not) Smoking
- Adults: If you are a smoker, quit as soon as possible. The sooner you quit, the better your health will be in the long run. It doesn't take long for your lungs to return to their old level of functionality, which means less chance of not only lung disease, but heart disease.
- Children: If you never start, you'll never have to quit - and quitting smoking is one of the most difficult things to do.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Adults: The American Heart Association has guidelines on what a healthy weight is for every person. This weight should be maintained by a balanced, healthy diet, not a fad diet or the latest thing that takes off a lot of weight at once (which will only return once the fad ends). These diets can often be dangerous, because they provide too much of some nutrients while eschewing others, ending up with most of the weight loss being loss of water weight. The best way to lose weight is slowly and steadily, using a sensible diet.
- Children: Activity is the goal for children. There should be an hour, at least, of physical activity each day. And, of course, a healthy diet is ideal. Each day should also include a period where there are no televisions, computers, or video games.
Diet
- Adults: Abundant fruits and vegetables are important, as is completely avoiding fried foods. Cut down on salt and try to eat only healthy fats. Your protein sources should be lean meat and plant sources. When it comes to plain-based proteins, soy is the only one considered complete.
- Children: Do not force children to clean their plates and give them portions that are smaller.
The Basics of a Healthy Diet
All food is composed of a combination of the three macro-nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Any healthy diet will include all three. The good carbohydrates are complex carbohydrates. The fats should also come from healthy sources. Protein can be derived from both plants and animals, but any animal-based sources of protein should be lean. Protein supplements can be a great part of a heart-healthy diet. The recommendation of the American Heart Association is that about 35% of most diets should be protein, with most of the rest devoted to carbohydrates.
Animal-Based Sources of Protein
Animal-based proteins are considered complete, since they have all eight of the essential amino acids that the human body cannot produce. The best sources are the lean ones like turkey and chicken. Eggs and low-fat dairy foods are another excellent source for protein. Red meat, however, should be limited in the diet.
Plant-Based Sources of Protein
Virtually all plant-based sources of protein are incomplete, with soy being the only exception. Soy is the only one to have all eight essential amino acids. Vegetarians and vegans can still get all the proteins necessary by eating combinations of these foods.
Protein Supplements
Protein supplements come in many forms, including protein powders, bars, and liquid protein supplement shots. These are all made from natural sources of protein, either plant or animal-based, which means you will have to make good choices. They all contain different amounts of protein, but some have extra fats or sugars which should be avoided.
Whey
Whey protein is produced as a byproduct of cheese production. Whey protein powder has two basic varieties: the cheaper concentrate (containing about 30% to 85% protein) and the more expensive isolate (containing 90%) protein. Whey protein isolate has a smaller lactose content, which means it can be used by most lactose intolerant people.
Soy
Just two servings of soy protein each day can lower the level of blood cholesterol by as much as nine points. It can also lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Soy also comes in both concentrated and isolated forms and is easy to digest. Vegans and vegetarians can take soy protein without any problems.
Egg
Egg protein comes from the white of the egg, which is a perfect protein. This is the standard by which all other forms of protein are judged.
Rice
These proteins come from brown rice and have all eight of the essential amino acids, making it complete. Rice is also hypoallergenic, making it ideal for anyone who has food allergies or food sensitivities. Vegans and vegetarians can also use rice protein without compromising.
Profect
Profect is a liquid protein supplement shot. Only 2.9 fluid ounces in size, it only contains 100 calories, no fat, and no carbohydrates. It contains 25 grams of protein and helps to suppress the appetite while providing a good deal of the protein you will need for the day.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates have gotten a bad reputation over the last several years, but the truth is that carbohydrates are a large part of a healthy diet - or at least this is the case with complex carbohydrates. Foods like whole great breads and pastas, certain fruits and vegetables, and other such foods are high in complex carbohydrates. On the other hand, simple carbohydrates are not healthy at all.
Fats
There are even healthy fats that should be a part of a healthy diet. These should be about 20% of the calories you consume every day. Things like fatty fish, olive oil, and avocados are high in healthy fats.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for cancer patients. You can learn more at http://www.protica.com
Thursday, December 16, 2010
How To Choose The Correct Protein Powder Supplement For You
By Jim Duffy
The average diet has more than enough protein to meet daily needs, however, there are often times when the average diet becomes less than normal and may not be as adequate as it should be. Between the busy life that the average person leads and constant yo-yo or fad dieting, the fact is that what we should be eating quickly becomes what we do not eat and what we sorely miss.
For optimal health, every diet must contain the right amounts of the three macro-nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fats. There have been many diets that have tried to severely limit or even eliminate one or the other of these vital building blocks of life, with little success. Yes, there are bad food choices among these three categories, but there are excellent food options among them too. While it is best that nutrition come from healthy, whole food choices whenever possible, it is not always feasible. We live on the run and on the road. Many of us spend most of the day with the steering wheel in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Eating healthy foods is hard enough, let alone trying to shop for and cook these options. We succumb to the lure of the drive-thru and then bemoan our chubby tummies. There is not enough time in the day to sit down for a meal that does not involve packets of ketchup or interruption by a cell phone call or the need to check our Facebook or our Twitter. When in our busy day are we going to fit in exercise?
While it should be next to impossible to have inadequate protein in the average diet, it is possible for those who are simply not eating at all because they think they can finally manage to get their weight under control if they do not eat solid food. What they succeed in doing is shutting down their metabolism all together. But, then what are they using for the energy to continue to live? Their body is burning energy stores, that is true, but only in limited amounts. What their body is actually burning might be their own lean muscle mass.
It is important that we not only become more educated about our health and nutrition needs and, but also about metabolism and weight loss. There are 34 million people in the United States who are medically obese. (Source: www.Stanford.edu ) At any one point in the year, there are over 20 million people who are starting, in the middle of or giving up on a diet. (Source: www.thriveonline.com)
Many of those people will try sensible diets that are nutritious and have the right amount of calories for optimal health. Unfortunately, many more of them will choose a fad diet that will sadly fail for them. There are countless reasons that these people will give for the diets that they choose, with some of them using the lack of time as one of the reasons that they do not eat well. For them, opting for protein supplements might be a better way to protect their health and to make sure they are getting enough of this important nutrient each day. Whether they are looking for a protein supplement that can serve as a protein booster or a meal replacement, they need to know what the different types are, the advantages and disadvantages of each and what makes them different from one another.
If you are interested in finding a good protein supplement, there are a few things that you should be looking at, including the ingredients and the nutritional value. Here are some suggestions for the best protein supplements, including choices for vegetarians and vegans as well as for those who have food allergies.
A final note: if you have any medical conditions, including serious food allergies, it is important to make sure that you are consulting a doctor, a dietitian or a nutritionist before adding protein supplements to your diet plan.
The Protein Supplement Options
Protein supplements come in many different forms, including powders, bars, liquid supplements, shakes and even pudding. There is a weight loss program that suggests eating a pudding "shot" before each meal so that you eat less while enjoying your favorite foods. The protein in the pudding shot fills you up and protects against muscle loss. The choice of which protein supplement is right for your will depend on a number of factors. Obviously, a powder would have to be mixed before you consume it, making it more suitable for use at home. There are portable, battery operated mixers that you could use for these powders, or you could mix and take along your supplement. Premade protein shakes and drinks might be handy to use, but can sometimes come in larger sizes that are not easy to carry around or might be too large for a quick boost. Profect, a liquid supplement shot from Protica, is fast and easy to drink, with only 100 calories and a full 25 grams of protein per serving.
No matter what type of protein supplement you are looking at, consider its cost and its ingredients before making a final selection.
The Protein Powders
There are four kinds of protein powders: whey, soy, egg and rice. Among these, there are some that are single ingredient and some that are combination. It is important to read the ingredients of these powders, especially if you are allergic to one or the other of these types of proteins. If you are not sure about an allergy, stick to single ingredient powders until you know that they are safe.
Whey Protein Powder -- Whey protein is derived from milk and is the most common type of protein powder. There are two types of whey protein powder, a concentrate and an isolate. The concentrate is the most common and the least expensive in most cases. The concentrate contains 30-85% protein while the isolate has around 90%. The isolate also has less fat and less lactose than the concentrate.
In addition, the whey protein isolate has 50% more leucine than soy protein, which has the advantage of building more lean muscle tissues and lowering body fat.
The benefits of whey protein powder are that it boosts immunity, is an optimal source of amino acids, including the essential amino acids, it enhances muscle recovery after workouts and prevents muscle loss after workouts. It increases glutathione, an antioxidant that is important for a healthy immune system. Whey protein releases hunger suppressing hormones as well.
Its sole disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are lactose intolerant.
Soy Protein Powder -- Like whey, soy can be either a concentrate or an isolate, with the isolate providing more protein. Soy is the only plant based protein that is complete, meaning that it contains all eight of the essential amino acids. (The human body makes many of its own amino acids, but cannot make leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysine). Soy protein powder is derived from soy flour and is highly digestible.
The benefits of soy protein powder are that it improves the nutritional value of foods, lowers cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease. Soy protein powder is one of the few protein supplements that is appropriate for a vegetarian or vegan diet.
The disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are allergic to soy or soy products.
Egg Protein Powder -- Eggs are the perfect protein source, and are the protein that all others are judged and evaluated against. Eggs are complete proteins, meaning that all eight essential amino acids are present. The protein powder is created from egg whites so that it is fat free. Egg protein powder is the highest source of the amino acids alanine, argine, glycine and methane.
Its disadvantages are that it is not meant for those who have egg allergies, and it is not for vegans.
Rice Protein Powder -- Rice protein powder is derived from brown rice and is a complete protein source. The biggest advantage of rice protein powder is that it is hypoallergenic and is perfect for those who have any kind of allergies. It is also perfect for vegetarians and vegans.
Its disadvantage is that it may not be easy to find.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures http://www.profect.com IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein bullets for bariatric patients. You can learn more at http://www.protica.com - Copyright
The average diet has more than enough protein to meet daily needs, however, there are often times when the average diet becomes less than normal and may not be as adequate as it should be. Between the busy life that the average person leads and constant yo-yo or fad dieting, the fact is that what we should be eating quickly becomes what we do not eat and what we sorely miss.
For optimal health, every diet must contain the right amounts of the three macro-nutrients, protein, carbohydrates and fats. There have been many diets that have tried to severely limit or even eliminate one or the other of these vital building blocks of life, with little success. Yes, there are bad food choices among these three categories, but there are excellent food options among them too. While it is best that nutrition come from healthy, whole food choices whenever possible, it is not always feasible. We live on the run and on the road. Many of us spend most of the day with the steering wheel in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Eating healthy foods is hard enough, let alone trying to shop for and cook these options. We succumb to the lure of the drive-thru and then bemoan our chubby tummies. There is not enough time in the day to sit down for a meal that does not involve packets of ketchup or interruption by a cell phone call or the need to check our Facebook or our Twitter. When in our busy day are we going to fit in exercise?
While it should be next to impossible to have inadequate protein in the average diet, it is possible for those who are simply not eating at all because they think they can finally manage to get their weight under control if they do not eat solid food. What they succeed in doing is shutting down their metabolism all together. But, then what are they using for the energy to continue to live? Their body is burning energy stores, that is true, but only in limited amounts. What their body is actually burning might be their own lean muscle mass.
It is important that we not only become more educated about our health and nutrition needs and, but also about metabolism and weight loss. There are 34 million people in the United States who are medically obese. (Source: www.Stanford.edu ) At any one point in the year, there are over 20 million people who are starting, in the middle of or giving up on a diet. (Source: www.thriveonline.com)
Many of those people will try sensible diets that are nutritious and have the right amount of calories for optimal health. Unfortunately, many more of them will choose a fad diet that will sadly fail for them. There are countless reasons that these people will give for the diets that they choose, with some of them using the lack of time as one of the reasons that they do not eat well. For them, opting for protein supplements might be a better way to protect their health and to make sure they are getting enough of this important nutrient each day. Whether they are looking for a protein supplement that can serve as a protein booster or a meal replacement, they need to know what the different types are, the advantages and disadvantages of each and what makes them different from one another.
If you are interested in finding a good protein supplement, there are a few things that you should be looking at, including the ingredients and the nutritional value. Here are some suggestions for the best protein supplements, including choices for vegetarians and vegans as well as for those who have food allergies.
A final note: if you have any medical conditions, including serious food allergies, it is important to make sure that you are consulting a doctor, a dietitian or a nutritionist before adding protein supplements to your diet plan.
The Protein Supplement Options
Protein supplements come in many different forms, including powders, bars, liquid supplements, shakes and even pudding. There is a weight loss program that suggests eating a pudding "shot" before each meal so that you eat less while enjoying your favorite foods. The protein in the pudding shot fills you up and protects against muscle loss. The choice of which protein supplement is right for your will depend on a number of factors. Obviously, a powder would have to be mixed before you consume it, making it more suitable for use at home. There are portable, battery operated mixers that you could use for these powders, or you could mix and take along your supplement. Premade protein shakes and drinks might be handy to use, but can sometimes come in larger sizes that are not easy to carry around or might be too large for a quick boost. Profect, a liquid supplement shot from Protica, is fast and easy to drink, with only 100 calories and a full 25 grams of protein per serving.
No matter what type of protein supplement you are looking at, consider its cost and its ingredients before making a final selection.
The Protein Powders
There are four kinds of protein powders: whey, soy, egg and rice. Among these, there are some that are single ingredient and some that are combination. It is important to read the ingredients of these powders, especially if you are allergic to one or the other of these types of proteins. If you are not sure about an allergy, stick to single ingredient powders until you know that they are safe.
Whey Protein Powder -- Whey protein is derived from milk and is the most common type of protein powder. There are two types of whey protein powder, a concentrate and an isolate. The concentrate is the most common and the least expensive in most cases. The concentrate contains 30-85% protein while the isolate has around 90%. The isolate also has less fat and less lactose than the concentrate.
In addition, the whey protein isolate has 50% more leucine than soy protein, which has the advantage of building more lean muscle tissues and lowering body fat.
The benefits of whey protein powder are that it boosts immunity, is an optimal source of amino acids, including the essential amino acids, it enhances muscle recovery after workouts and prevents muscle loss after workouts. It increases glutathione, an antioxidant that is important for a healthy immune system. Whey protein releases hunger suppressing hormones as well.
Its sole disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are lactose intolerant.
Soy Protein Powder -- Like whey, soy can be either a concentrate or an isolate, with the isolate providing more protein. Soy is the only plant based protein that is complete, meaning that it contains all eight of the essential amino acids. (The human body makes many of its own amino acids, but cannot make leucine, isoleucine, valine, threonine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and lysine). Soy protein powder is derived from soy flour and is highly digestible.
The benefits of soy protein powder are that it improves the nutritional value of foods, lowers cholesterol and lowers the risk of heart disease. Soy protein powder is one of the few protein supplements that is appropriate for a vegetarian or vegan diet.
The disadvantage is that it is not meant for those who are allergic to soy or soy products.
Egg Protein Powder -- Eggs are the perfect protein source, and are the protein that all others are judged and evaluated against. Eggs are complete proteins, meaning that all eight essential amino acids are present. The protein powder is created from egg whites so that it is fat free. Egg protein powder is the highest source of the amino acids alanine, argine, glycine and methane.
Its disadvantages are that it is not meant for those who have egg allergies, and it is not for vegans.
Rice Protein Powder -- Rice protein powder is derived from brown rice and is a complete protein source. The biggest advantage of rice protein powder is that it is hypoallergenic and is perfect for those who have any kind of allergies. It is also perfect for vegetarians and vegans.
Its disadvantage is that it may not be easy to find.
Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures http://www.profect.com IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein bullets for bariatric patients. You can learn more at http://www.protica.com - Copyright
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