Just like all of the proteins in your body, it’s composed of building blocks called amino acids. Protein is important for many functions in our body. It builds, maintains and repairs body tissue, keeps your hair, skin and nails healthy and boosts your immune system.

Protein is composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. It is made up of 22 amino acids which are also known as ‘building blocks’. Eight of these are called essential amino acids because they cannot be made by the body and must be provided by the foods we eat. The remaining amino acids are called nonessential as the body produces these on its own.

Protein sources are classified as either complete or incomplete sources of protein. Complete protein sources are animal sources of protein such as chicken, fish, dairy and eggs; these sources of protein contain all the essential amino acids. ISOFLEX protein powder is also considered a complete protein source, making it an ideal addition to your fitness plan. Incomplete sources of protein are usually plant sources such as grains, nuts and beans. These sources are called incomplete as they are lacking one or more essential amino acids. However, two incomplete sources of protein can be combined to create a complete source of protein.

Protein sources are rated by a scale called the Biological Value (BV) which rates the quality of protein by determining how much is absorbed and retained by the human body. Whole eggs were originally considered to have the highest BV of 100, meaning 100% of the nitrogen in an egg is absorbed. They were considered the reference point. However, whey protein has been found to have an even higher BV rating of 104-159. ISOFLEX whey protein has an extremely high BV.

Biological Values of Common Food Sources: