Nutrition Information |
|
||
Not All Protein is Created Equally
America's focus on nutritious eating began to receive national attention in the 1940s when President Roosevelt introduced the RDA, or Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) model. This model, which took on the shape of a pyramid in the 1980s (and hence now goes by the term "food pyramid"), has gone through a number of iterations since its inception more than 60 years ago[i]. This change and evolution of the RDA model is, in many respects, a positive step. It demonstrates that, just as America's information on diet and nutrition is advancing, so too are the models that guide its eating habits. In fact, the USDA itself has decided to update the term and now refers to "RDI's" ("Reference Daily Intake") instead of RDA's. However, undermining some of this positive change is the fact that many Americans are increasingly confused over what, how, and when to eat. A survey conducted by the USDA in 1996 verified this fact when 40% of respondents agreed strongly with the statement that "there are so many recommendations about healthy ways to eat, it's hard to know what to believe"[ii]. One of the most serious expressions of this growing dietary confusion has to do with a concept called the Daily Value, or "DV". Introduced by the USDA in the 1990s, the DV is a dietary numerical reference that is supposed to allow people to make healthy eating choices[iii]. The philosophical idea behind the DV, which is expressed as a percentage, is that it provides a very important piece of information. The DV informs consumers how much of a nutrient they are getting from a particular food item. For example, if the DV label on a can of beans declares that it represents "10% of the DV for fat", then consumers can keep track of that number to know if, throughout the day, how much fat they are eating[1]. However, one does not have to be a mathematician or a dietician to see that the above idea begs a significant question: is this10% of the DV for fat "good" or is it "bad"? In other words, should a consumer choose this source of fat because it represents a good source of fat, or avoid it for the opposite reason? It is this question that has caused so much confusion among health-conscious consumers. It has caused particular anxiety among those who are wisely ensuring that they eat the recommended daily allowance for protein. The importance of protein in diet cannot be understated. It is not simply an essential macronutrient for athletes, such as bodybuilders and runners. Protein is critical for life itself, regardless of mobility or athleticism. Among other essential functions, protein maintains and repairs muscle tissue, aids digestion, regulates chemicals, manages hormones, and produces enzymes[iv]. In extreme cases, a dangerous lack of protein actually leads to a condition called Kwashiorkor, where the body cannibalizes itself[2]. Trying to determine the right amount of protein - as expressed in terms of DV% -- has been a difficult challenge for most eaters. Unfortunately, as a result of this confusion, some consumers have not been eating high quality protein. This is because the DV number is simply not enough information upon which they can make healthy protein eating decisions. The missing number in the DV equation is the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) level. The RDI for protein is, generally, 50 grams per day. Consumers can take the number of total grams of protein in a product, and divide it by this RDI for protein to determine what the "optimum" DV number should be. For example, if a product offers 25 grams of protein, and the RDI is 50 grams per day, then the product's "optimum" DV will be 50%. Therefore, the figure "50%" should appear on the product's labeling. If the number is lower than 50%, the consumers instantly know that it is not an optimum source of protein. Finding high quality sources for essential micronutrients like protein (among others) is a challenge that should not be difficult, but it is, because some food makers do not want to educate consumers on how to detect high quality from low quality. This is particularly unfortunate in the health and nutrition food industry, where one would expect manufacturers strive for high quality nutrition. Regrettably, this is not always the case. However, that is not reason to despair. Rather, it just as much reason to support companies that are making the effort to ensure that their products reflect only high quality DV levels, and a concurrent effort to educate the public on how to determine optimum DV. About Protica Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm with offices in Lafayette Hill and Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Protica manufactures capsulized foods, including Profect, a compact, hypoallergenic, ready-to-drink protein beverage containing zero carbohydrates and zero fat. Information on Protica is available at www.protica.com. You can also learn about Profect at www.profect.com. [1] The FDA is clear that the DV concept is not intended to direct people on how much they should eat. In this example, the eater should not conclude that eating 10 cans of beans will achieve "100% of the recommended fat intake per day". The DV is intended as a reference number only and not as a recommendation. The intake per day is suggested by the RDA/RDI, which will be discussed further in this article. [2] Kwashiorkor is more prevalent in some parts of the developing world, but incidences have been reported in the US. References [i] Source: "Food Pyramid History". http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Fall02/Greene/history.htm [ii] Source: America's Eating Habits: Changes and Consequences. USDA. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aib750/ [iii] Source "Daily Values Encourage Healthy Eating". FDA. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/special/foodlabel/dvs.html [iv] Source: "The Importance of Protein". OhioHealth. http://www.ohiohealth.com/facilities/mcconnell/weightmanage/details/protein.htm Copyright 2004 - Protica Research - http://www.protica.com
Look For
MORE RESOURCES: Owners selling vacation rentals from under guests is a growing problem The Seattle Times New era of policing vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County pushes complaints, violations into public view Lookout Santa Cruz Vacation Rental Management Association CEO Kimberly Miles Steps Down Skift Travel News Oceanside City Council continues debate over short-term rentals FOX 5 San Diego Google Clarifies Vacation Rental Structured Data Search Engine Journal Vacation Rentals: How to Make Your Stay Sustainable The New York Times Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis ABC News Hawaii governor pledges to sign vacation rental regulation bill Courthouse News Service 'A significant step forward': Destinations Florida urges Gov. DeSantis to sign vacation rental bill Florida Politics Before vacation rentals, “The house of sun” was the place to stay Coastal View News York's short-term rental ordinance ignites dueling campaigns Seacoastonline.com Vacation Rentals on Business Trips? Who Gets the Best Airline Seat? Skift Travel News In the Public Interest: New era of policing vacation rentals in Santa Cruz County pushes complaints, violations into ... Lookout Santa Cruz City of Jacksonville Beach calls for short-term rental bill veto FirstCoastNews.com WTLV-WJXX The Meteoric Rise and Spectacular Fall of the Queen of Airbnb Business Insider 7 Waterfront Retreats In Utah That Are Perfect For Warm Weather Adventures Only In Your State Whimstay and Booking.com Forge Partnership for Enhancing Vacation Rental Opportunities Travel And Tour World Morning Lookout: Vacation rental crackdown, Highway 1 construction, Mentone's next phase Lookout Santa Cruz Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis Hamilton Spectator State legislation stalls movement on Pinellas vacation rental regulations ABC Action News Tampa Bay A Statewide Ban On Vacation Rentals? The Idea Is Gaining Steam After The Maui Fires Honolulu Civil Beat Ask Amy: Family friends poach vacation rental Chicago Tribune FL lawmakers pass state regulations on short-term vacation rentals; how will it play out? • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix As vacation rentals eat up housing in South Florida, controlling them might become harder | Opinion Miami Herald Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis Jackson Hole News&Guide These Are the Top 10 Vacation Rentals on Vrbo for 2024 Travel + Leisure 34 Gorgeous Beach House Rentals Around the World | Condé Nast Traveler Condé Nast Traveler Green Won't Issue Vacation Rental Moratorium For Maui Honolulu Civil Beat Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis goskagit.com Lawmakers passed bill to shift control of vacation rentals to state Tallahassee Democrat Senator wants uniform standards for short-term vacation rentals, but it seems to be a tough sell • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix The effort to get the FL governor to veto short-term vacation rental bill accelerates • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis KVIA 5 Desired Features for Vacation Rentals Real Estate Airbnb rentals could be harder to come by in Hawaii Greater Milwaukee Today | GMToday.com Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis Times Daily Big Island Lawmakers Attempt To Rein In Short-Term Vacation Rentals Honolulu Civil Beat This year's version of a short-term vacation rental bill now goes to the full House • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix Florida vacation rental murder highlights danger of 'massive, unregulated' industry: lawyer Fox News Deadly Fort Lauderdale shooting spotlights concerns over vacation rentals bill - NBC 6 South Florida Deadly Fort Lauderdale shooting spotlights concerns over vacation rentals bill NBC 6 South Florida This Is When You Should Book Your Summer Holiday Vacation Rental, According to Vrbo Travel + Leisure Some Florida mayors are getting testy about a contentious vacation rental bill • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix State lawmakers advancing short-term vacation rental measure News 13 Orlando Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis Bowling Green Daily News The latest version of a vacation rental bill gets its first hearing in Tallahassee • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix Green Bay area vacation rentals ask $10,000 a night for 2025 NFL draft Green Bay Press Gazette This affluent Bay Area county may put hard limit on vacation rentals for first time San Francisco Chronicle 100+ Best Summer Vacation Rentals to Book Now Condé Nast Traveler Hawaii lawmakers take aim at vacation rentals after Lahaina wildfire amplifies Maui housing crisis MSN Marin County passes new rules limiting vacation rentals San Francisco Chronicle Short-term vacation rental bill passes in FL Senate, but regulations on the issue remain unsettled • Florida Phoenix Florida Phoenix Hawaii Legislature Mulls Ban on Vacation Rentals Fodor's Travel Hawaii governor wants 3000 vacation rentals converted to housing for Maui wildfire survivors The Associated Press Best Greater Palm Springs Area Vacation Rentals to Book Palm Springs Life Local leaders have a short-term rental conundrum St Pete Catalyst 10 Best Vacation Rentals in Dallas of 2024 TravelAwaits St. Petersburg, Pinellas County seek to rein in short-term rentals Tampa Bay Newspapers Bill would regulate short-term vacation rentals, give state more power WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm Pledging big bucks, Green seeks vacation rentals for evacuees — and broader housing relief Hawaii News Now |
RELATED ARTICLES
Introduction to Detox Diets Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure to all kinds of health problems. Since most of us are busy, and unable or unwilling to maintain a strict diet in order to completely eliminate all the toxins from our body. MonaVie Acai Berry Juice - The Tree of Life from Amazonian Rainforest... What ancient tribes and people of the Amazon have known for centuries, the world is just discovering. That an ancient berry, called the Acai Berry, may cause a sexual sensation. Do You Know What You Are Eating? With all the news about Splenda of late and the FTC, I had a client ask me the other day, "so what's the deal with Splenda, it's just sugar that has been processed!". I asked him if he knew what Splenda was and he said no. Childhood Epidemic Rises 6,000% What Can Be Learned About Autism? The latest tallies show that over three million people in North America alone carry some type of autism diagnosis. With this increase the biggest question people are asking is why. The Great Influence Of Vitamin B to the Nervous System In order for a person to actually have a healthy well-being, one must always remember to have an adequate daily intake of the prescribed vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs in order for it to stay healthy and fit.Unfortunately, due to stress and the increasingly fast-paced environment that we're often subjected to, it's quite easy to neglect one's body, most importantly one's health. Fish Oil The research in support of dietary omega-3 fatty acids (such as in fish oils) continues to flood the scientific literature. This is perfectly predictable given our genetic roots. Put a Zing in your Step with Ginger! Zingiber officinale has been held in the highest regard by the Indian and Chinese civilizations for as far back as 5000 years.Pythagoras the Greek mathematician was a devotee, as was King Henry VIII. Combat Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Today, more than ever, consumers over the age of 50 are on some type of Pharmaceutical drug regimen, many of which promote healthier, longer lives. Unfortunately, many of these drugs also deplete vital nutrients from the body which may cause a new round of medical complications. What is A Balanced Diet For Losing Weight and Good Health? The total calories that you should be consuming depend on whether you are a women or a man. It depends on your body structure and your activity level. Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other? Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our lives. We communicate for many reasons such as: 1) to get what we want, 2) to get rid of what we don't want, 3) to let people know how we feel, 4) to show people we care, 5) to work productively with co-workers, etc. Understanding Vegetarianism Like the Sun, Moon, and Earth, there are three kinds of vegetarians in existence: ovo-lacto, a vegetarian that eats vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds and nuts, as well as eggs and dairy products. Lacto, a vegetarian that eats everything the "ovo-lacto" does, except eggs. Serious About Wanting To Improve Your Familys Healthy Eating Lifestyles? Dr. Christine Wood, M. You Are What You Eat You've no doubt heard the saying, "You are what you eat", as it typically pertains to encouraging people to be more health conscious- and really consider each food before it enters the mouth! In America in fact, a commercial for a popular brand of cereal bars actually depicted people walking out of donut shops and bakeries in costumes of the food that they ordered for breakfast, and of course, everyone stared at the donut shaped person walking into the office. The idea behind the phrase, "you are what you eat", is if you don't want to look like you eat donuts every morning for breakfast and fast food every night for dinner, you need to eat healthier. Nutrition as Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Alternative Treatment: Help is as Close as the Kitchen The quality of food we eat (or lack thereof) has a profound affect on Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD. For many people, nutrition alone can effectively work as an ADHD alternative treatment. What About Potassium? Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document report 264 you'll life should be changed forever. You're going to discover that the biggest fallacy most people aren't aware of is that if we eat a balanced diet, (the four food groups), we get all the nutrients we need to stay healthy and live a long life. Is It Possible To Follow a Strict Diet Program and Still Have A Normal Lifestyle? Following a diet program of any sort can sometimes be restricting depending on different circumstances. A Strict diet program can be hard to stick to and the best diet programs are the diet programs that you can definitely stick with for the rest of your life. An Open Letter to Mankind In the last twenty years, a huge and growing body of research has been carried out into the role of the sugars that are an essential part of glycoproteins. These sugar-protein complexes are the building blocks of our immune system, and are the method by which cells "talk" to each other. Healthy Eating Myths Destroyed Some of the things you think you know that just ain't so (these myths are not true):Eating Cholesterol does not increase your cholesterol levels Salt does NOT cause High Blood Pressure Eating Fat does NOT make you fat All refined carbohydrates are hazardous to you Artificial sweeteners of all kinds are not good for you All vitamins and supplements are NOT created equalEating Cholesterol does not increase your cholesterol levelsThe Medical professions current way of thinking about cholesterol. They look and see lots of cholesterol in the blood. Being Proactive With Your Health Decisions In today's world, there's a definite need to be proactive in protecting our health. But that assumes there's something you CAN do to protect it. Juicing - A Beginners Guide You can spot a juicer a mile off at the supermarket or greengrocer. Apart from the huge number of carrots and apples they are loading into their trolley, they also have that slightly smug, see-how-healthy-I-am look about them. |
home | site map |
© 2005 |