NOVEMBER 20238IN MY OPINIONIt likely comes as no surprise that our thoughts on maintaining a healthy lifestyle have changed following the pandemic. It is estimated that 85 percent of consumers have changed their eating habits, and among those estimated changes is a conscious effort to eat more protein. Why? Consumers report a desire for a more balanced diet, and they're looking to satisfy their hunger throughout the day. Consumers are also paying attention to where their protein comes from and they are increasingly looking to plant-based protein sources including soy, pea, hemp, rice, and more. Consumption of plant-based foods is on the rise. In 2020, plant-based foods grew more than twice as fast as the whole segment. But is it better? And how much protein do consumers even need? How can product developers navigate all of these questions when it comes to the science of protein nutrition to create compelling foods and dietary supplements for this expanding consumer base? It makes sense to set the stage. In human nutrition, dietary protein is a macronutrient made of a combination of 20 amino acids, some of which are classified as essential, meaning they cannot be made by the human body in adequate amounts to meet demand, and therefore must be obtained in the diet. BY ERIC CIAPPIO, STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, NUTRITION SCIENCE, BALCHEM HUMAN NUTRITION & HEALTHMAINTAINING A PROTEIN RICH DIETEric Ciappio
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