Alas, the protein series is ending this week with rice protein, which I am sure is welcoming for some. Rice protein is a great source of proteins for vegans and those who want to stay away from whey and soy protein due to the allergens, GMO’s, processing, dairy, or digestive problems that can accompany whey or soy. Rice protein can be used just like the other products to make great smoothies or add into juices, and has many advantages to other protein sources including;
• Non-allergenic
• Dairy free
• Vegan
• GMO free
• High fiber
• Minimal processing and additives
• High Bioavailability
• Low GI distress
Rice protein is made by the grinding of brown rice into a flour, then mixing that with water. Enzymes are then added to separate the carbs and the fibers from the protein. The process must be done at a low heat to preserve the enzymes and to prevent the denaturing of the amino acids. This process results in a raw and highly usable protein source which is over 86% digested by the body. Rice protein has a net protein utilization (NPU) of about 76 compared to that of soy and whey at 61 and 92 respectively. The NPU is on a scale of 100, and measures the amount of protein converted by the body from a given source. The concerns with rice protein include the taste, which some find gritty or chalky, and the amino profile, which has a slightly lower level of the amino acid lysine in comparison to whey or soy (.5g compared to 1.5g in whey) making it not as complete as the other two, but still a complete protein.
Bottom line, rice protein is an excellent raw and vegan source of protein for those wanting to stay away from whey or soy. It is a great source of plant based protein, and is a great way to add more protein to your diet for training, or if you eat a plant based diet and may not be eating enough protein. Below I have given a few choice producers of rice protein that adhere to the mentioned standards.
Recommend rice protein supplements;
Sun Warrior protein
Jay Robb sprouted brown rice protein
Boku Super Protein
I am trying to be more consistent and stick to a Monday posting every week from now on, I appreciate your understanding in my inconsistencies over the last few weeks. I also welcome and would appreciate any ideas and suggested topics that you may want to hear more about. Thank you and have a great week.
