Plant Sources Meet the Growing Demand for Protein Supplements

Supplemental protein was previously used only by bodybuilders but now even most common eaters add more protein to their diet. The low-carb diet trends have made protein to be in great demand and claim that protein can help build lean muscle, keep you full longer, and even help in weight loss.

Americans get more than enough protein in their regular diet but they also seem to prefer supplements. Food ingredient firms disagree with the nutritionists that protein mania is merely a passing fad.

Manufacturers opt for protein sources for their ingredients rather than to animal sources such as dried egg whites or milk-derived casein and whey.

Executives of companies such as DuPont, Solazyme, and Roquette say the choice of ingredients has many causes such as rising dairy prices, demand for new ingredients in food and beverages, concerns about sustainability, and the popularity of heart-healthy diets based on plants.

Apart from soy, the king among plant proteins, there is demand for new ingredients derived from peas, other oil seeds, and even algae. A switch to plant proteins by those who can afford meat would go a long way to feeding the growing global population while using fewer of the planet's resources.

Source: Medindia