Protein is an essential nutrient for the skin, muscles, enzymes, hormones, and many more areas of the body. You can get protein from many sources, including plants and animals.
But there are many reasons you may want to avoid animal-based products, such as ethical and environmental concerns, the purity of ingredients, or even because whey, a protein from dairy, may not sit well with your body if you’re lactose intolerant.
Thankfully, plants are also a good source of protein and may be ideal when the product you choose also contains essential amino acids, which are naturally present in many animal proteins but not found in plant proteins.
Along with pea protein, you may also want to consider additional support with a nutrient like benfotiamine and the antioxidant known as astaxanthin. Keep reading to learn more about how to shop for pea protein and how vitamins and antioxidants may provide optimal support for the body.
How Pea Protein Supports the Body
When looking at the physical benefits of protein on the body, researchers from the Exercise and Nutrition Science Graduate Program, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tenn., found that the ingestion of a protein supplement plays a role in body composition, muscle thickness, force production, workout of the day performance, and strength.
Protein is also filling. Eating meals and snacks with protein may help to support healthy weight management and provide a source of energy to help you stay active.
There are other potential benefits of pea protein that some people may enjoy. These include being naturally cholesterol and fat free. However, some protein products may add fats, cholesterol, or other compounds that may be beneficial to depending on your individual goals. Pea protein also does not contain hormones, and may reduce or eliminate heavy metals or other environmental toxins sometimes found in animal products.
When purchasing a pea protein supplement, make sure to buy from a reputable brand like Metagenics that offers Perfect Protein Pea and Rice, or Jarrow Formulas that offers Organic Pea Protein.
Why Essential Vitamins Matter
Protein is just one part of the health equation. You also need vitamins, like vitamin B1, or the synthetic version of vitamin B1 known as benfotiamine. Benfotiamine is an active form of thiamine that doesn’t require conversion inside of the body, so it may be more bioavailable.
Benfotiamine supports many areas of the body, including the brain, eyes, heart, nervous system, and blood sugar levels. However, there are eight total B vitamins, so you may want to consider Metagenics’s Wellness Essentials formula to help you reach your daily nutritional goals. This formula contains all essential vitamins, plus minerals for optimal support.
How Antioxidants Support the Body
Antioxidants are also important for helping to protect healthy cells from free radicals and environmental toxins. Astaxanthin is a red pigment and antioxidant frequently found in aquatic life such as algae, krill, salmon, and any other animals that eat these organisms, like flamingos.
The unique composition of astaxanthin means it may provide free radical scavenging activity that is up to seven times stronger than vitamin E, according to a research journal on Hindawi.
Providing additional antioxidant support from astaxanthin may help you to maintain your the health of your body, whether you are resting your body or exercising. Make sure to shop Jarrow Formulas and Astaxanthin 12 Mg for your antioxidant needs.
Final Words
Protein, vitamins like benfotiamine, and antioxidants work to help and provide the body the support it needs from the moment you wake up to the rest periods at the end of the day and during sleep.
Protein is especially good as a meal replacement and to aid muscle recovery, vitamins support the hundreds of biological functions of the body, and antioxidants help to keep the body “clean.” Combine all three for optimal support and see if they make a difference in your health!
