Soy Protein
Soy protein is a plant-based
form of protein. In fact, it is the only complete protein available
from a vegetable source. Soy protein is considered to be a
heart-healthy choice and including it as part of your diet can reduce
your risk of heart disease when combined with a fat that is low in fat
and cholesterol.
Soy protein is a good choice for vegetarians or
for those people who are lactose-intolerant. Consuming this product may
also help to preserve your bone density, as well. The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recommends that 25 grams of soy be consumed to
reduce your overall cholesterol level. You can divide up your daily soy
requirement into four servings of 6.25 grams each.
Consuming
products containing soy protein on a regular basis will have other
health benefits for you as well. If you are a woman, this change in
your eating habits will lower your risk of developing breast cancer and
relieve symptoms of menopause. Men who consume soy protein on a regular
basis see real health benefits as well; they will be less likely to get
prostate cancer.
Whey Protein
Whey protein is a very
common source of protein. You will find it in a number of protein
supplements on store shelves. This complete protein is a milk-based
product; think of Little Miss Muffet and her "curds and whey." Whey
protein is derived from cheese.
If your goal is to build up lean
muscle on your body, you will want to include a whey protein supplement
in your routine. If you skip this step, you could potentially spend
hours working out in the gym without seeing any change in your lean
muscle mass, since muscle needs protein to be able to grow.
Another
advantage to using whey protein is that it aids in weight loss. When
your body is trying to digest protein, it requires more energy to do so
than when you consume other types of foods. When you eat whey protein,
the rate at which your body absorbs glucose is slowed down. You are
less likely to feel hungry and therefore, less likely to overeat.
There
are other health benefits of eating whey protein as well. It will help
to strengthen your immune system and help you recover faster if you get
ill. Whey protein may be taken by cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy; it is easy to digest and provides much-needed nourishment
to a person who is already feeling lousy because of the treatments. The
results of some studies on animals point to whey protein as a substance
that can stop the growth of cancerous tumors.
Whey protein is not
just for adults, either. It contains many of the same compounds as
breast milk, and is used by infant formula manufacturers in their
products. Some of these formulas have proven effective in cutting down
on the amount of crying that colicky babies do. (Any parent who has
lived through that time in their baby's life probably wishes someone
had told them about whey protein formula sooner!)
As you can see, there are health advantages to using both soy protein
and whey protein. Take some time to figure out what advantage you are
trying to get from using this type of product and that will help you
make the right choice.
By Robert McKnight