Making insect protein affordable
The science of protein
Gain knowledge, save time and money
Truth is, most people don't really know that much about how our bodies work, and that's fine because it's not your job to know (unless you're a nutritionist!).
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But take two minutes to read this, you will know how to fuel your body better to get better results for the same effort, saving money by not consuming protein unnecessarily.
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Let's have a look at the most common misconceptions so you never fall for them again!
1. All protein is the same
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There are 20 amino acids (building blocks of proteins). Your body can't make 9 of them, so they must be in your diet. You also use them in a specific ratio.
A complete, protein, like Oko, contains all 9, in that specific ratio, with a high bio-availability for humans. That will optimize health and recovery.
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Many proteins contain only some of the 9, such as lentils, or all 9 but in the wrong ratios, like soy. What does this mean for you? You won't be healthy if you don't get all 9, and to get the minimum quantities for all 9, you actually need to eat more food! More food = more calories and more expense. Even plant based 'meal replacement' products fall well short of the mark (no names mentioned!).
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Around half the protein in soy is wasted because we don't have the necessary enzymes to hydrolyze some of the peptide linkage; soy protein has a low bio-availability. Oko, in contrast, has a high bio-availability similar to chicken, so we use more of what we eat!
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Next time you are buying products marketed as high in protein, ask yourself 'what type'.
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Research: Human cells take in less protein from a plant-based 'meat' than from chicken
2. The most important time to eat protein is after exercise.
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Actually, it's important to stay well nourished around the clock; there's nothing special about the time after your workout, and there's plenty of research to suggest eating slow-digesting protein 1-2 hours before exercising gives your body a steady supply of amino acids throughout and after training to prevent muscle breakdown. Moreover, the rate of protein synthesis (muscle repair and growth) is elevated for at least 24 hours after exercise.
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Breakfast is the most overlooked opportunity to feed your body with what it needs. It's common for people to leave 12 hours between dinner and breakfast, so if you don't get a protein packed start of day meal, your muscles, organs and brain are protein starved until lunch! Breakfast is a great time to have Oko, because you're in a rush and mixing it in with porridge, cereal, yoghurt, jam, peanut butter....etc is a simple way to get long lasting, high quality protein supply.
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3. Your body can't use more than 30g protein per meal.​
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This one is so common, and just wrong. Anyone who says this has got their facts muddled!
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Research: How much protein can the body use in a single meal
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There is a tiny grain of truth to this myth: studies have been done using manufactured proteins, which we digest too quickly, resulting in an excess of amino acids in our body which can't be stored and are then converted into energy, i.e. not used in protein synthesis as we want.
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But natural proteins like Oko, consisting of longer amino acid chains, digest far more slowly, releasing a steady supply of protein over several hours.
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It's a bit like the difference between a short term energy spike from sugar, and slower digesting complex carbohydrates.
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And this is why elite sportspeople get the vast majority of their protein intake from natural sources, not shakes.
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4. You're not getting enough protein​
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Don't throw away your hard-earned cash! Marketers will usually want to push you to consume more of whatever they're selling. We're actually telling you to make sure you're not having too much protein!
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There are magazine articles, YouTube videos and Instagram fitness stars who claim to eat excessive amounts of protein. But even top bodybuilders base their diets on research which suggests an upper limit which you can follow:
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1.0 - 1.2g protein per lb lean body weight per day
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If you're not than lean, so don't know your lean body weight, then this formula will do for you just fine:
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1.0g per cm height per day
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Remember, this includes ALL protein sources. Whilst most of your protein should be from high quality sources like Oko, your bread, pasta and cereal all contain some protein; check the back of packaging. Oko is convenient because it's easy to measure, so you won't waste money eating too much.
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5. Whey is the best protein​
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People talk about 'taking' protein shakes, like it's a medicine. The result of decades of marketing campaigns from all angles, the implication is whey is somehow special or essential. It is, however, just a food. And not a great one.
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Don't get me wrong, there are many benefits to whey: it's convenient, it has a long shelf life, and it's low in calories. It is also quickly digestible. But as already mentioned, digesting too quickly isn't always better.
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At one time, milk was cheap and whey was an inexpensive by-product of cheese manufacture. This provided companies with an opportunity to market whey with high mark-ups. Nowadays, the market for protein is so huge that prices of whey are soaring.
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And last, but most certainly not least, is the flatulence problem of whey!
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6. The lower the fat, the better.​
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There are good fats, and bad fats. Many animal fats can do quite a lot of damage to our cardiovascular system over the long-run. However, good fats such as omegas, which Oko is rich in, are essential.
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You need fats like these to synthesize hormones, and the right amount will ensure high levels of testosterone in men (think muscles), and FSH in women (responsible for managing the menstrual cycle).
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We also need good fats to repair cell walls and to grow new cells in our brain, and muscles.
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Fats have a huge benefit in maintaining a healthy body-weight. Consuming fat slows down the digestion of other nutrients such as protein and carbs. The result: you feel fuller for longer and don't have an energy spike and crash, so can easily resist snacking or binge eating, whilst benefiting from a more consistent, longer lasting supply of protein and energy to your muscles, brain and organs.
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Eat the right amount of high quality fats, and you'll be fitter, healthier, and less hungry.
Have other questions about protein, nutrition, or Oko? Please get in touch and we'll do our best to help however we can!