Small molecular units known as amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, comprise protein powder. This is because protein powder is derived from protein-rich animal and plant food. The amino acids are the components in the powder that allow it to be so efficacious at muscle synthesis.
Definition
Protein powder is a type of high-quality protein that is isolated and then dried out. The most common forms are made from the proteins casein, the curdled portions of milk fat used to make cheese and whey. It can also be derived from eggs and soybeans, though these forms are far less common.
Function
According to Richard Joshua Hernandez, B.S., and Len Kravitz, Ph.D., of the University of New Mexico, protein is integral to the contractile mechanisms of the body and therefore essential to the synthesis of muscle mass. As muscle hypertrophy occurs --- in other words, the growth of muscles --- proteins are added to the muscles to make them bigger and stronger. In addition, dietary protein is also necessary to replace the amino acids lost through excretion every single day.
Significance
There is nothing unique to protein powder that allows muscle synthesis. All of the amino acids and nutrients can be found elsewhere. However, protein powder has some of the highest concentration and widest variety of muscle-building and immune function nutrients in a single serving. Whey, in particular, is one of the highest quality proteins that you'll find.
Essential Amino Acids
There are 20 amino acids total. Half of them cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained strictly through the diet. These are known as essential amino acids. Protein powder contains all the essential amino acids. This is also true of protein powder derived from the soybean, which is the only plant-based protein that meets this standard.
Considerations
The most important amino acids used in the process of muscle synthesis are special kinds known as branched chain amino acids, which include the amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. They are metabolized directly by the muscles, whereas most amino acids are metabolized by the liver. A paper in "The Journal of Nutrition" by Peter J. Garlick from the University of Illinois found that leucine provides a signal to the muscles that amino acids are available, which together with the signal of energy availability from insulin, stimulates muscle synthesis.
Member Comments