The Science of Protein Utilization (What actually happens when you consume protein)

by Dr. David Minkoff July 10, 2019 4 min read

Athletic woman free climbing and cresting the top of the mountain she is on.

Trying to get enough protein into your body to increase lean muscle mass, recovery and endurance?

STOP.

It’s not a matter of how much protein you're consuming — but how much your body is able to use.

And depending on what protein sources you're using... that may not be very much.

But what's even worse? What the unused protein gets turned into. (Hint: It starts with an S and ends with UGAR.)

... Yeah, it gets turned into carbs (glucose) or stored as fat. 

But let's back up. Because to understand the above you need to understand what protein actually is, and more importantly, what happens when it enters your body. 

 

All Proteins Are NOT Created Equal

Different protein sources have different amounts of usable protein. Some as little as 18%.

That's right. 18%.

And you're most likely consuming them and wondering why you can't get that last layer of fat off, or why you have bloating or mood swings or sugar highs and lows. 

I'll explain. 

When you consume protein it isn't broken down into "protein molecules". It goes further than that. It's broken down into amino acids, the building blocks of protein. 

Among the amino acids are essential and non-essential amino acids and these are combined in hundreds of different ways to make different types of protein. 

Now, the essential amino acids are essential because the body can't make them on its own. But, when the body has all of the essential amino acids, in an exact combination, it can make any of the other non-essential amino acids it needs and so make any proteins it needs for muscle, ligaments, tendons, nerve, bones, internal organs, skin and much more. 

So, when you consume protein it's broken down into the essential and non-essential amino acids. Then, however much essential amino acids exist in the right combination are turned into new proteins and used by the body.

But, when there are extras of certain essential amino acids and non-essential amino acids (and there always are) your body has to do something with them. 

A lot of people think the body holds onto them, waiting for more EAAs until it has enough to make more protein. But it doesn't. In fact, it can't. 

Your body only has one way to store amino acids. It turns them into Fats.

So it has two choices when faced with unused amino acids. Turn them into carbs (glucose) and burn them for energy. Or store them as fat and burn them later on. 

I'm sure you can see why that's not good. 

 

Why?

Look, if you’re counting your macros, making sure you're getting an exact number of carbs fats and protein, because you know you need to hit certain numbers for you strength gains or weight loss goals, then you can't have sneaky "protein" turning into carbs or fats!

You won't get the results you expect. You'll get blood sugar spikes that shouldn't exist and fat that just won't come off (because you're constantly, unknowingly feeding it).

 

Yeah, Yeah, But What About the Toxins?

Well, yes, there's something else that happens to those un-utilized amino acids when they're burned as carbs. And it can reach toxic levels.

They're turned into nitrogen waste. This must then be eliminated through your kidneys and can be very hard on your kidneys.

In fact, when taking too much dietary protein, you can even start to notice an ammonia-like smell in your sweat or urine. That's because your kidneys are overloaded with nitrogen waste and your body now has to detox through your sweat glands.

And it's all because you have these hidden "carbs" in your diet.

So how does this stack up against what you're taking?

 

Protein Utilization Rates:

We'll start at the very bottom with what many people think is at the top: BCAAs. If you need all the essential amino acids to create protein... and BCAAs are only 3 of the EAAs... then how much protein can you make?

Right, so what percentage is turning into sugar and giving you that BCAA boost of energy?

That's right. I won't say you could do just as well eating a banana because that would be mean. 

Moving on to WHEY and SOY: These are utilized at a rate of 16-18%, leaving 82-84% to be burned as sugar or stored as fat. 

MEATS are utilized at 32% and eggs are utilized at 48%. 

But they have to be whole eggs as the EAA levels are not equal in both the white and the yolk but only hit 48% when combined.

What's higher than that? Unsurprisingly, it's breast milk at 49%. This makes sense considering an infant needs the most usable protein it can get at that age. 

But there is another source that's higher. In fact, it's as near to perfect as you can get which is why it's called PerfectAmino. 

 

Shop and Learn More About PerfectAmino Products Here!

How Does PerfectAmino Hold Up?

PerfectAmino is each of the essential amino acids in the exact combination necessary for 99%+ utilization, and in a form that is fully absorbed into your blood stream in approximately 23 minutes.

And, as there is no conversion into carbs, and so virtually nothing to burn... it's only 2 calories per serving. A serving which is equivalent to 29 grams of protein from whey. 

What this means for you is no sugar highs or lows. No hidden carbs. Actual clean bulks. 

And if you take it 30 minutes before a workout, then by the time you start it's in your bloodstream actively repairing the micro-tears in your muscle as they occur = actual prevention of muscle loss during fasted workouts. Not to mention, reduced muscle fatigue and increased endurance. 

PerfectAmino truly is the perfect protein source. Stop overburdening your body with excess protein it can't use. Get PerfectAmino and feel and see the difference. 

 

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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.