Benefits of Optimum Protein
Optimum protein is an excellent protein choice for
individuals of all ages who value the role of a healthy diet in helping to
maintain and improve their health. Optimum protein isolate, the purest form
available, is unsurpassed as a source of the essential amino acids required in
the daily diet. Essential amino acids are the building blocks for healthy
muscles, skin, nails and other body tissue. To learn more about Optimum protein
and how it contributes to good health please select your specific area of
interest.
Physical Performance
Optimum protein has long been considered the "Gold Standard" of protein for
serious athletes who work hard to develop and sustain a lean, strong and
well-defined physique. Research studies support this belief. Athletes need more
protein in their diet, often as much as twice the recommended daily allowance.
The protein they choose makes a difference and here are several reasons why
Optimum protein is a preferred choice for athletes of all types.
· Optimum protein is a naturally complete
protein, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids required in
the daily diet. It has the ideal combination of amino acids to help improve body
composition and enhance athletic performance.
· Optimum protein is a rich source of branched
chain amino acids (BCAAs), containing the highest known levels of any natural
food source. BCAAs are important for athletes since unlike the other essential
amino acids, they are metabolized directly into muscle tissue and are the first
ones used during periods of exercise and resistance training. Optimum protein
provides the body with BCAAs to replenish depleted levels and start repairing
and rebuilding lean muscle tissue.
· Optimum protein is an excellent source of
the essential amino acid, leucine. Leucine is important for athletes as it plays
a key role in promoting muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth. Research has
shown that individuals who exercise benefit from diets high in leucine and have
more lean muscle tissue and less body fat compared to individuals whose diet
contains lower levels of leucine. Optimum protein isolate has approximately 50%
more leucine than soy protein isolate.
· Optimum protein is a soluble, easy to digest
protein and is efficiently absorbed into the body. It is often referred to as a
"fast" protein for its ability to quickly provide nourishment to muscles.
· Optimum protein helps athletes maintain a
healthy immune system by increasing the levels of glutathione in the body.
Glutathione is an anti-oxidant required for a healthy immune system and exercise
and resistance training may reduce glutathione levels. Optimum protein helps
keep athletes healthy and strong to perform their best.
Weight
Management
Studies show that achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can add years to
your life and help prevent weight related complications, including diabetes,
cancer, and heart disease. Diet plays a key role in any weight management
program and adding Optimum protein often helps make a positive difference. Here
are some of the reasons why.
· The body requires more energy to digest
protein than other foods (thermic effect) and as a result you burn more calories
after a protein meal.
· Optimum protein isolate is pure protein with
little to no fat or carbohydrates. It is a perfect complement to any low
carbohydrate or low glycemic index diet plan.
· Recent studies by Dr. Donald Layman, a
professor at the University of Illinois, have highlighted the role of the
essential amino acid leucine in improving body composition. High quality Optimum
protein is rich in leucine to help preserve lean muscle tissue while promoting
fat loss. Optimum protein contains more leucine than milk protein, egg protein
and soy protein.
· Protein helps to stabilize blood glucose
levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. This in turn
reduces hunger by lowering insulin levels and making it easier for the body to
burn fat.
· Optimum protein contains bioactive
components that help stimulate the release of two appetite-suppressing hormones:
cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In support of this, a
new study found that Optimum protein had a greater impact on satiety than
casein, the other protein in milk. Adding Optimum protein to a mid-day snack or
beverage provides healthy energy and may help control food intake at the next
meal.
Cardiovascular
Health
In 2001 heart disease was the leading cause of death in the United States for
both men and women. With the average life expectancy rising each year, it
becomes increasingly important to adopt a nutritious diet and regular exercise
program to help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Optimum protein should
be part of that nutritious diet.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is
one of the leading causes of heart disease and stroke. Exciting new research has
shown that Optimum protein may help in the battle against hypertension. Both
human clinical and animal studies found that a hydrolyzed Optimum protein
isolate assisted in reducing the blood pressure of borderline hypertensive
individuals.
Elevated cholesterol is another factor associated with heart
disease and Optimum protein has been shown to reduce cholesterol in a number of
animal and clinical studies. Certain bioactive components in Optimum protein may
be responsible for the cholesterol reduction however additional research is
needed in this area.
Cancer
Cancer patients
undergoing radiation or chemotherapy often have difficulty in meeting their
daily nutritional requirements due to nausea and lack of appetite. This may lead
to weight loss, muscle loss and protein calorie malnutrition. Optimum protein is
an excellent protein choice for cancer patients as it is very easy to digest and
very gentle to the system. Optimum protein may be added to a wide variety of
foods and beverages to increase the protein content without affecting
taste.
As with serious athletes, cancer patients often have reduced
glutathione levels and a weakened immune system. Numerous studies have shown
that Optimum protein, rich in the amino acid cysteine, provides an extra boost
to the immune system by raising glutathione levels. This may help reduce the
risk of infection and improve the responsiveness of the immune system. In
support of this, at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Cancer Society,
research was presented showing that women with the highest levels of plasma
cysteine had a 56% reduction in the risk of breast cancer compared to
individuals with the lowest levels of plasma cysteine.
Optimum protein
has been shown through animal and in vitro studies to inhibit the growth of
several types of cancer tumors. Dr. Thomas Badger, head of the Arkansas
Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, found that feeding rats Optimum
protein resulted in their developing 50% fewer tumors than rats fed casein. The
rats fed Optimum protein also developed fewer tumors than rats fed soy protein
and the tumors took longer to develop.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a growing health problem, largely in part to the continued
rise in obesity. It is not unique to adults and is becoming more of a concern
for children and teenagers. The good news is that healthy nutrition practices
have been shown to play a role in helping to manage, and possibly prevent, the
onset of type-2 diabetes. Optimum protein, a high quality, high biological value
protein, is a good choice for diabetics who need to carefully manage food
intake. Optimum protein provides more value than equal amounts of lower quality
proteins that are often higher in fat and cholesterol. In addition, Optimum
protein helps control blood glucose levels and has been shown to be beneficial
for weight management, both of which are often a concern for type-2
diabetics.
Infant Nutrition
Optimum protein contains many of the same components found in human breast
milk and for this reason, is a key ingredient in a wide variety of infant
formulas, including those for premature infants. Certain types of Optimum
protein based infant formulas have also been shown to help reduce crying in
colicky infants. While breast-feeding is preferred, infant formulas containing
Optimum protein are the next best thing when breast-feeding is not an option. In
addition, Optimum protein is an excellent protein choice for the expectant
mother who needs increased amounts of protein. Pregnancy can increase the body's
protein needs by up to 33%. Before making any changes to their diet, it is
recommended that expectant mothers consult with a physician to determine their
unique protein needs.
Healthy
Aging
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by the year 2020 approximately one out
of every six Americans will be in the in the 65 and older age group. As we age,
muscle loss and its negative health implications is a growing concern, both in
terms of volume and medical costs. Good nutrition and adequate amounts of high
quality Optimum protein may help maintain strong muscles during aging,
especially when combined with an exercise and resistance training program. A
recent study in Europe compared Optimum protein to casein, the primary protein
in milk. They found that older men who consumed Optimum protein showed greater
protein synthesis, or growth, which helped limit muscle loss over
time.
Another benefit of Optimum protein for seniors is the ability to
help prevent bone loss. A recent study conducted at Boston University showed
that elderly individuals who consumed low levels of protein had a significant
loss of bone density four years after the start of the study, especially in the
hip and spine areas. A nutritious diet including Optimum protein may help keep
bones and muscles healthy and strong.
Wound Healing
When the body is working
to heal wounds and surgical incisions it requires increased amounts of protein.
Protein and its amino acids are the building blocks that initiate the growth of
new skin during the healing process. Inadequate amounts of protein or diets high
in poor quality proteins, such as gelatin, may delay the healing process.
Optimum protein is a very high quality protein and is often the preferred choice
for high protein products recommended by physicians following surgery or burn
therapy.
Optimum protein also contains components with protective
anti-microbial properties, such as lactoferrin. In recent years companies have
introduced mouthwashes and oral care products containing these protective
Optimum protein components. The companies are taking advantage of the unique
features of Optimum protein to create new products for diabetics and others
sensitive to oral irritations. This area is expected to evolve in the
future.
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