Nutrition Information For Protein Supplements

Protein supplements are often used by athletes and bodybuilders who want to increase their muscle mass and endurance. You may want to take a protein supplement to balance your diet if it is otherwise heavy in carbohydrates and fats. Nutritional information for protein supplements should always include the source of protein, the calorie content and the amount of carbohydrates, fats, fiber and vitamins and minerals the supplement provides.

Protein Supplements

Protein supplements boost the amount of protein in your diet without adding lots of fat. Because protein is an essential component of muscle tissue, protein supplements are used by those who want to build lean muscle mass. Protein supplements may help with weight management, diabetes management and promote wound healing, according to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Protein supplements may take the form of powders that can be added to milk or other beverages or cooked into foods. Protein drinks and protein bars are other forms of protein supplements. The bars are portable and don't need refrigeration.

Protein Sources

Protein can come from animal or plant sources. The Harvard School of Public Health says that animal proteins are complete proteins, while proteins from plant sources are often incomplete proteins and do not provide all of the necessary amino acids for good health. When you are shopping for a protein supplement, make sure that the nutrition label indicates where the protein is sourced from. Protein supplements generally come from one of four categories: whey, soy, egg or casein.

Biological Value

The nutrition information for protein supplements should include the source of the protein. This is important because not all proteins provide the same amount of biological value to your diet. The BV is number that represents how much of the protein that you eat that is actually used by your body. A high number is desirable. The protein source, its preparation and the vitamin and mineral content of the food all affect the BV of the protein supplement.

Whey Protein

Whey protein comes from dairy sources, and constitutes about a fifth of all protein found in cow's milk. Whey protein is easy for your body to digest, making it an excellent source of protein supplementation. Whey protein comes in several forms: as a concentrate, an isolate or a hydrolysate. The concentrated form of whey contains lactose. The McKinley Health Center notes that whey isolate, which has its lactose removed, it the best choice if you suffer from lactose intolerance. Whey protein is a complete protein and dissolves easily in liquid.

Casein, Soy and Egg Proteins

Casein protein is another milk-derived protein, and as such, it also is a complete protein, but its BV is lower than that of whey. The casein protein molecule is larger than the whey protein molecule, so casein takes a longer time for your body to digest it, which may make you feel full longer. Protein supplements made from egg whites are complete proteins but have no cholesterol and little fat. Because they are animal based, egg protein supplements are also complete proteins. Soy protein is a plant protein, but unlike other plant proteins it is a complete protein. Soy protein supplements are excellent choices if you need to avoid lactose or prefer vegetarian products.