How to Improve Protein Digestibility

• The breakdown of protein begins in the mouth as we chew our food
• Maximum protein digestibility comes from animal sources rather than vegetable sources
• Insoluble fibers are plant fibers which the body cannot break down for digestion
• Undeveloped countries have lower protein digestibility from a diet of whole grains and legumes as an only source of protein
• Protein supplements as in whey, soy, egg, and casein supplements will measure up to protein digestibility over other food sources of protein
• Powdered supplements of protein and their amino acids are readily absorbed and easily digested

The most fundamental component of all living cells and substances which include enzymes, hormones, and antibodies are proteins. Protein is an essential nutrient of the diet for growth and repair of tissue. The components of proteins are extremely pertinent to the normal function of organisms.

Protein breakdown begins in the mouth through the process of chewing. From there, the chewed protein arrives at the stomach where further breakdown and actual digestion begins. Proper protein digestibility will take place in the small intestine. This is the area where the protein breaks down into smaller amino acid chains by means of a variety of protein digesting enzymes known as pepsinogen as well as hydrochloric acid. Proteins will continue their process of further breakdown before any possibility of moving on to the bloodstream.
Protein digestibility is not always so simple. A percentage of all nutrients will somehow get sidetracked from digestion. Protein digestibility is the absorbed protein in the body compared to what is actually consumed. Animal sources of protein seem to have a higher digestibility than vegetable sources of protein. There are some developing countries which have a considerably lower protein digestibility compared to the typical diet of North Americans. Diets of these developing countries consist of high levels of insoluble fibers and elevated concentrations of anti nutritional factors. This is based on a daily regimen of lower refined cereals and grain legumes. Foods such as these are major sources of protein for folks in underdeveloped countries. In fact, anti nutritional factors may unfavorably affect protein digestibility and amino acid availability.

Including protein supplements with your diet will give you a better edge on your protein digestibility corrected amino acid score, or PDCAAS. This is a way of examining protein quality as of the amino acids needed for the body. This is a method adopted by the US Food and Drug Administration. Egg protein measures up to the highest PDCAAS score. Egg protein comes from the white of the egg which makes it fat free and very high in protein.

Before supplements of egg protein were available, athletes and bodybuilders would drink raw egg whites or have several eggs as meals. Whey, soy, and casein protein also measure up to being on top for protein digestibility. As for soy protein, this supplement has a comparable digestibility to higher quality protein sources of milk and meat products. Protein supplements of various natures are readily digested and appropriately absorbed in the body.

Protein quality, Amino acid score, Scoring pattern, Digestibility, Critical evaluation, PDCAAS