Protein Facts & Myths

 

1. Myth: ALL PROTEIN IS ‘THE PROTEIN‘

Most of us know that proteins are building blocks of our body and the most vital constituent of the body only after water and hence is important. The popular belief is protein is same from wherever it is derived.

FACT: DEPENDING UPON THE SOURCE, ‘PROTEIN ‘ BECOMES TRUE BUILDING BLOCK.

Proteins are made of many types of amino acids, some essential while some non-essential. (non-essential here means Amino Acids which your body can synthesise, essential are the ones your body can’t and have to be consumed as food). Depending upon the source, proteins are made of different combination of amino acids which will determine the quality of protein.

Basically proteins as a food are assessed not only quantitatively but also qualitatively.

For Eg every protein is different in terms of its digestibility, it’s bio-availablity, it’s energy efficiency in terms of calories and more complex ratios like NPU, PDCAAS, DIAAS, PER, BV which actually will define how efficient your protein is!

MYTH: I DON’T NEED PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT, I EAT WELL.

FACT : IT IS NEVER A BAD IDEA TO SUPPLEMENT YOUR FOOD WITH GOOD QUALITY PROTEIN TO COPE WITH DAILY STRESS AND STRAIN.

Though we may like to believe that what I eat is enough, most of the times it is not. Especially in today’s fast life where you need cutting edge to stay ahead. That completely explains A recent survey titled ‘Protein Consumption in Diet of Adult Indians: A General Consumer Survey (PRODIGY) has brought to light striking observations regarding the protein intake in India. It indicates that 9 out of 10 people of the sample consumed inadequate amount of protein.

This holds true more so because of vegetarian diet which lacks in good quality protein and general choice of ‘healthy’ foods in India means more fruits and veggies. Though there can’t be any doubt of nutritive value of fruits and veggies but they are more water carbs and vitamins and miniscule amount of proteins.