Eating Protein vs. Protecting Proteins

Eating protein – how much, what kind, when, etc. – is not my conversation. Protecting proteins (i.e. tissues) is my contribution to you. Ironically, the protein sources we eat have dramatic and differing impacts on how our tissues (proteins) are protected during hard core exercise. Hard exercise, in this case, is defined as 80%+ max V02 threshold. At a human performance symposium, hosted by the United States Olympic Committee, the two biggest blind spots for elevating physiological performance, are “rest/recovery” and “nutrition”.

Below is a ground breaking clinical study, in 2009, published in “Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise” (i.e. the scientific journal of the American College of Sports Medicine). This is tip of the iceberg on research surrounding advances in human performance. This study shows, quite dramatically, the importance of particular “foods” (in this case “fruit and vegetables concentrates”) in the attenuation (blunting) of oxidized proteins (protein carbonyls). This represents a clear and apparent performance advantage. Read more in the study here. The graph below shows the cumulative advantage derived, after 7 months, from ingesting daily fruit and vegetable concentrates.

What looks like a conversation for hard core athletes, interestingly, becomes a translational insight for all of us.  Thus, these results above identify both a competitive physiological advantage for athletes and the rest of us too.

How so?  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, hard-exercise, sun, pollution, medications, poor diet, lack of sleep, toxins, etc.  Thus, when oxidative stress is increases, regardless of its source, protein carbonyls increase.  This means damage to your protein cells and tissues which equals compromised physiology.

Protecting your physiology (i.e. oxidative stress on proteins) comes from consuming nutrient dense foods. The most nutrient dense foods on the planet are fruits and vegetables.  These superfoods preserve and protect physiological vitality (i.e. brains, eyes, lungs, heart, lungs, muscles, etc.).  If you are not consuming 9+ servings of fruits and vegetables, everyday, you have an execution gap.  Produce concentrates can provide support.

The benefits and competitive advantages from food, diet and nutrition are only as good as one’s execution.  Do you and/or your patients-clients need help executing (i.e. eating more produce everyday)?  To learn more email us at .

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