JUNE 2014 - The basics you need to know about Protein supplements

Proteins are what we call the ‘building blocks’ of any living organism. Proteins constitute life in the form of enzymes, antibodies, hormones, hair, nail, bone teeth, cartilage, haemoglobin (blood protein), neurotransmitters, skin and/or are the basic components of any cell in our bodies.

Did you know? There are 20 standard amino acids, which are divided into two categories; Essential amino acids and Non-Essential amino acids.

Essential amino acids; cannot be synthesised in the body, therefore they have to be supplied to our  bodies through diet. 

Here is a list of essential amino acids;

• Valine
• Threonine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Isoleucine
• Methionine
• Phenyalanine and
• Tryptophan

Non-Essential amino acids; can be produced in the body. 

Here is a list of non-essential amino acids

• Alanine
• Cysteine
• Glycine
• Serine
• istidine
• Tyrosine
• Proline
• Arginine
• Aspartic acid
• Glutamic acid and
• Glutamine

Digestion of Protein; begins in the stomach, and is completed in the small intestine where single amino acids and peptides are absorbed into the blood stream. Whole protein, not digested, are also absorbed into the blood stream.

Benefits of Protein; are helping the body fight off illness and disease and keeping the immune system functioning properly. Also, the muscles in our body are partly made up of protein, so protein helps to maintain healthy muscles. 

Did you know? Enjoying breakfast that has protein in it can optimise your brain’s ability to send  messages to the rest of your body, helping you to wake-up!  

We could all benefit from that - agree?

So, eating a morning meal high in protein raises your brain’s tyrosine levels. This helps your brain produce neurotransmitters called norepinephrine and dopamine, which give you energy and feel alert.

Have you heard of ‘Whey Protein’? Well, this might be the great news in protein. Whey protein is a by-product during the production of cheese, and it has the highest known levels of branched chain amino acids of any natural food source - sounds pretty awesome right? Whey protein is also a “complete protein” that is fast and easy to digest.

Here’s a small list of 8 benefits that have been associated with whey protein supplementation:

1. Weight Loss
2. Assists in increasing in muscle mass
3. Increase in glutathione levels (your body’s main water-based anti-oxidant)
4. Decrease in triglycerides
5. Decrease in total cholesterol while increasing HDL (good cholesterol)
6. Increase in immune system function
7. Increase in muscle function
8. Decreased recovery time and symptoms of over-training

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