Eating #GAINS: How To Protect Your Proteins
Eating protein – how much, what kind, when, etc. – is a hotly debated topic but is not my conversation. Protecting proteins (i.e. cells, tissues, organs, systems, function, performance, etc.) is my contribution here. The protein sources we eat have dramatic and differing impacts on how our tissues (proteins) are protected during hard core exercise. Hard exercise, for the purposes of this piece, is defined as 80%+ max V02 threshold. At an Olympic human performance symposium, the two areas where athletes and fitness buffs) are not finding ideal results are “rest & recovery” and “nutrition”. I have something to say about that.
Below is a ground-breaking clinical study, published in 2009 in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (i.e. the scientific journal of the American College of Sports Medicine). This research represents just the tip of the iceberg of research pertaining to advances in human performance, but it is an important one. It shows, quite dramatically, the impact of particular foods (in this case plant powder concentrates) on the attenuation (blunting) of oxidized proteins (protein carbonyls). This study makes clear that using food to prevent this attenuation represents a clear and apparent performance advantage. Read more in the study here.
This is a critical conversation for hard-core athletes and, interestingly, becomes a translational insight for all of us: these results identify that, with carefully curated nutrition, significant physiological advantages (#gains) are possible for athletes and the rest of us, too!
How does this work? When we oxidize fats, lipid peroxides are created. When we oxidize proteins, protein oxides (i.e. protein carbonyls) are created. Protein oxidation is measured by the level of “protein carbonyls” in the blood plasma. Oxidative stress comes from many sources: inflammation, stress, intense exercise, sun, pollution, medications, poor diet, lack of sleep, toxins, etc. Thus, when oxidative stress increases, regardless of its source, protein carbonyls increase. This causes damage to your protein cells throughout your body and results in compromised physiology.
Being able to withstand the onslaught of oxidative stress (i.e. protecting proteins) produces PHYSIOLOGICAL DURABILITY.
Food conditioning with plant powders offers a huge advantage for athletes . . . for anyone! Nutritional support is only as good as your execution... day in, day out. You can learn more at health food agents or at human performance nutrition.
To get on the field of play with plant powders, connect with your HFA or with us at healthfoodagency@gmail.com
