There are always arguments about which protein powder is superior over another in regards to promoting muscle growth in the human body. In the lab, it doesn't appear that any one protein is better than another, with all protein powders showing to be well in excess of the daily amino acid requirements for normal tissue maintenance. In the end it really comes to to 5 main factors that will determine if a protein powder is suitable for your needs.
Digestibility: Before a protein powder can be used by the body, it has to be digested and absorbed into the bloodstream. Proteins vary in their digestibility and, logically, a protein that is poorly digested will be less valuable due to most of the amino acids not being made available to the body. Speed of digestion can also be of interest here when taking into account the timing of protein intake around training schedules.
Protein Powder Nutrition
Protein Quality: Protein quality is a measure of how well or poorly a given protein is used by the body. The amino acid profile of a protein powder tends to be one of the biggest determinants of quality. The quality is determined by how comprehensive the amino acid profile is and how much nutritional value this will provide to the body.
Amino Acid Profile: Again, tying in with the issue of protein quality, there is the issue of the amino acid profile of a given protein powder. Amino acids are simply the building blocks of protein, and there are 18-22 distinct amino acids. Each one is found in differing proportions in different food protein sources and, under certain circumstances, that profile will affect how it is used in the body or how it functions.
Presence or Absence of Other Nutrients: While often ignored, the presence or absence of other nutrients in a given protein source also impacts on how good of a protein powder it may be. For example, some protein powders can contain high levels of iron, B12 and zinc while others do not. The presence or absence of these micro nutrients may also be relevant to the type of training an athlete is doing or whether they are dieting or not.
Other Factors: There are a number of other potential factors surrounding protein powders that might determine which is a good or bad source under a given context. For example, proteins may show different effects on appetite, or blood sugar control, or what have you. Many of the cheap diet shakes available can contain high levels of corn syrup which can result in bodyfat gains, rather than losing bodyfat. There is also the issue of cost and availability along with the amount of protein in a given serve of a particular protein powder.
Summary
You are probably wondering why I haven't discussed mixability and drinkability of the protein powder when in liquid form?
These are more commercial marketing aspects of protein powders and are not concerned with the nutritional value of the product. I know that some people place more emphasis on these factors but you will find that athletes are only interested in whether the product can deliver the nutritional value that they require to perform at their peak. Obviously protein powders can offer benefits for athletes in terms of convenience and dietary control, especially around your workout where protein powders are preferred over whole protein foods to avoid stomach upset.
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Oct 19, 2011 04:32:41
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Optimum Nutrition Complete Protein Diet Meal Shake Mix, Vanilla Ice Cream, 4.2 Pound Feature
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Optimum Nutrition Complete Protein Diet Meal Shake Mix, Vanilla Ice Cream, 4.2 Pound Overview
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