Protein and the Benefits of Its Individual Amino Acids, Part 2 – Invite Health Podcast, Episode 101
Invite Health Podcast, Episode hosted by Jerry Hickey. Ph
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On today’s episode we are going to discuss additional instances where protein would be beneficial. How do you know which – Whey Protein or Collagen – is beneficial based off of your specific needs? If you missed Part 1, click here to listen now!
What exactly is Whey Protein?
Whey protein is a mixture of proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material released during cheese production. An authoritative review published in 2010 concluded that for muscle growth, whey is better compared to other types, such as casein or soy. This is likely because whey is more like the protein in mother’s milk.
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The protein in cow’s milk is 20% whey and 80% casein. The protein in human milk is 60% whey and 40% casein and the evidence also shows that whey is better absorbed than casein or soy protein. Studies have shown;
- Muscle formation and recovery from resistance exercise (weight lifting)
- Better control of appetite
- Improved burning of body fat
- Improvement of blood sugar control
Choosing Between Whey and Collagen
Protein can be used after an injury but it depends on what tissue is injured. If it is muscle or a digestive concern, you may want to turn to Whey. If it is your skin, joint tissue or bone concerns, Collagen may be your best option. It may also help for surgery – pre and post; L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, or Whey might be beneficial.†
For obese individuals, especially those who are dieting, you want to make sure you are losing fat, not muscle. In order to do this, you may want to use Whey Protein, as it helps keep you satiated (feeling full), preserves muscle and creates glutathione (levels drop when dieting).
Whey Protein and the individual amino acid NAC is important during a detox. These are used to remove toxins from the body. Again, it creates glutathione and supplies amino acids for phase 2 of the detoxification process.
For sports and muscle accretion in active people and physically active people, Whey is a better option. For diabetics and pre-diabetics, one scoop after a meal has been shown to help balance blood sugar.†
Why is Protein So Important?
Protein is important to every cell in our body – skin, hair, and nails. The foundation of our bone – the organic matrix – that calcium adheres to is made out of it. Our joints, ligaments and tendons and all other tissues incorporate it. We use it to make all of the enzymes that allow our body to function and to form the enzymes that digest our food. Our blood uses it to move things around and our hemoglobin that carries oxygen needs protein to be made.
Antibodies that give us resistance to viruses and bacteria are made out of protein, which is very important for our immune system. We make many hormones out of it, including our thyroid hormones used for energy and metabolism, our insulin for blood sugar control, and our related growth factors such as IGF-1 and IGF-2 for building and healing tissues. The cartilage in our joints, the lining of our blood vessels, lungs and intestines, our organs and all other tissues use protein to build and repair.
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Emergency Energy
Protein isn’t your body’s first — or even second — choice for getting energy. That role is reserved for carbohydrates and fats. But when you’re running low on calories, or if you’re a serious athlete, thank protein for keeping you going past the point of the normal amount of energy your body stores.†
Muscle Builder
You need protein to keep up the size and shape of your muscles. As you lose weight, it prevents you from losing muscle at the same time. If you lift weights for strength, it is the key to building more muscle.†
Bone Strengthener
Studies show that getting the right amount of protein in your diet improves your bone health. The core of bone is made out of it, and this is what calcium and other nutrients adhere to, to create bone. It lowers your chance of osteoporosis (bone loss) by helping you hold on to your bone density, and it helps prevent fractures as you age also.†
Boosts Your Immune System
Proteins are made of amino acids. These compounds help turn key players in your immune system — T cells, B cells, and antibodies — into germ fighters that spot and kill harmful microbes that enter your body before they can start an infection.†
Cuts Cravings
Cravings are different than a true need for food. They come from your brain, not your stomach. Research shows that getting more can help curb these cravings, even late-night fridge raids.†
Burns Fat
A high enough level of protein in your diet boosts your metabolism (the rate at which your body uses calories). This means you burn more calories a day — even at rest — than you would on a lower-protein diet.†
Heart Helper
Studies on protein show that some can support healthy blood pressure. It can also decrease your LDL or bad cholesterol levels, which lowers your risk of heart disease.†
Moves Nutrients
If you think of your blood stream as a canal, proteins are the barges that carry vitamins, minerals, sugars, cholesterol, and oxygen through it and into cells and tissues that need them to work. Some even store certain nutrients, like iron, so you have a backup supply when you need it.†
Do you currently use either Whey Protein or Collagen? Leave us a comment below and tell us what benefits you’ve seen!
Thank you for tuning in to the Invite Health Podcast. You can find all of our episodes for free wherever you listen to podcasts or by visiting www.invitehealth.com/podcast. Make sure you subscribe and leave us a review! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at Invite Health today. We’ll see you next time on another episode of the Invite Health Podcast.
