Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Your DNA is not Your Destiny!
Posted By Kristen Harding M.D. On June 4, 2012 @ 5:20 am In All Articles,Featured,Food & Nutrition,Health & Wellness.
How many times have you heard someone grumble about their health while laying most of the blame on their genes? Unfortunately, many people go through life resigning themselves to health problems that other family members have had, such as diabetes and cancer. I have had many patients in my office over the years telling me it is all their parents’ fault. But, wait a minute, research is showing that really isn’t true.
There is an emerging field in science called epigenetics. It is the study of how the environment impacts our genes. Here is the incredible thing…only about 2% of diseases are passed directly through families. Examples are cystic fibrosis and Huntington’s chorea. Most diseases, however, are controlled by multiple genes. Sometimes we get caught up in news stories telling us that researchers have found the gene for obesity or the gene for Alzheimer’s disease, but it really isn’t true. They have found genes that may contribute, but do not tell the whole story. The Human Genome Project mapped out around 30,000 individual genes. But what they found is that at any given time more than half of these genes are turned off. So it is the different combinations of which genes are turned on and which genes are turned off at any given time that determines what it going on in our bodies.
The incidence of diabetes has skyrocketed in the past couple of decades, but is takes centuries for genetic drift to occur in a population. This means that the increase of diabetes in Americans is not due to changes in the genes. Instead genes are being turned on and off all the time by the environment around them. The food we eat has the greatest impact on what is turned on and off and research is showing that exercise, toxins, and stress also have strong influence.
How amazing! We are no longer doomed to have the same diseases as our families! But here is the catch…many families pass down their lifestyle which will in turn impact susceptible genes. So if you parents are overweight, sugar-loving , couch potatoes who have ripe gene environments for diabetes and you also love sitting around eating doughnuts and Coke, then those genes will be turned on in you too. The nurture is more important than the nature.
So here is the reality, self care is the new primary care. The choices you make with your fork, how you handle your stress, and how active you are each day can have incredible impact on your health. Are you tired of paying so much for your health insurance? Are medications costing you a monthly fortune? Are you depressed from believing that since your mother or father died of something at a certain age that you will too? Take action! You have the power to activate the good genes in your body. Eat real food that does not come from a box or have a label (think plants!) Drink clean, filtered water. Walk outdoors in fresh air daily. Get your life stress in perspective. Start building a health community with your friends and neighbors to encourage each other to make positive change. We hold the key to our own health, we can’t blame our DNA.
Kristen Harding, M.D. has now opened her own functional medicine practice in the Cincinnati area, Whole Medicine, LLC. For more information about functional medicine or Dr. Harding’s practice please check out kristenhardingmd.com [1] or call her office at 513-549-0494.
Article printed from Healthy Alter Ego : The Health & Wellness Source You've Been Searching For: http://www.healthyalterego.com
URL to article: Click Here
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Poor Posture and the Tweet Generation
An article from "The American Chiropractor" Magazine of the Chiropractic Profession
Consider the conclusions from two recent studies:
"A significant linear trend for increasing sagittal plane postural translations of the head, thorax, pelvis, and knee was found in children age from 4 years to 12 years."1
"Poor posture was diagnosed in 38.3% children, more frequently in boys. A significantly different occurrence of poor posture was found between 7-year-old and 11-year-old children (33.0% and 40.8%, respectively). The most frequently detected defects were as follows: protruding scapulae (50% of all children), increased lumbar lordosis (32%), and round back (31%). Children with poor posture reported headache and pain in the cervical and lumbar spine more frequently."2
Study after study is validating what chiropractors have been seeing for the past decade or more: Children at a younger and younger age are seeking relief from adult type pain and discomfort. What could be the cause of this increased frequency of young patients seeking care? The author believes it is the result of sociological and technological pressures that have only developed within the past generation, the Tweet Generation.
It began in the early 90s when schools eliminated lockers and required children to carry their lockers in their backpacks. A couple of years later that child began playing handheld video games. Next came the cell phone for kids with affordable family plans. But the child didn't use the phone to make and receive calls. They used them for texting. Massive amounts of texting. The author's 11-year-old daughter sent out 11,000 text messages in one month.
Next we go back to a change made at the school level. As the Internet expanded so did the reliance of schools on the Internet as a method of delivering content. So, as a result, time in front of a computer at school and at home was required.
The connection between all these activities is clear: Since the early 90s children from the age of nine up through young adulthood, their musculoskeletal formative years, have engaged in activities that create a Forward Head Posture environment. These activities have literally molded their bodies into an abnormal posture profile. Re-read the conclusions of the studies cited at the beginning of this article. For those readers not yet alarmed at those conclusions, consider these other studies.
"All measures of health status showed significantly poorer scores as C7 plumb line deviation increased."3
"Older men and women with hyperkyphotic posture have higher mortality rates." 4
"Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse, and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by posture." 5
What is being done to raise adult awareness of this growing trend in children? Not much. Every state requires a school scoliosis exam. During a school scoliosis exam a child is also examined from the side, but only to observe evidence of gross kyphosis. And in most States that part of the exam is not mandatory. Studies have shown that 4.2% of the children screened for scoliosis trigger a referral for radiographs. And of those 4% only a small fraction will require advanced treatment. It appears that nobody is educating parents and schools about the 30% of children in that same age group that are experiencing Forward Head Posture and its effects.
Forward Head Posture Epidemic
While developing a new posture grid for school posture exams, the author placed a typical middle school youth in front of the grid and asked the youth to send out a text. It was discovered that the head was placed in a position 4.5" in front of the shoulders and placed the shoulder joints in internal rotation. The typical youth can text up to 30 hours per month.
Combined with other technology and social stressors, today's youth is at a greater risk for "molded" forward head posture than any past generation.
Considering the important immediate and future health ramifications of poor posture, accurate posture exams and counseling with parents, children and schools should be a part of every wellness practice.
The author recently examined over 1,000 posture exams from a single office. Using sophisticated posture analysis software, deviations from normal were calculated and charted.
"16 years ago I estimated that 80% of the population had FHP. I was surprised and concerned to learn that in such a large population the number was 96.5%"
The additional mechanical loads from FHP stress and eventually break down the spine, disks, muscles, etc. In other words, FHP could be the CAUSE of patient complaints.
There are several methods of identifying FHP and systems available for correction. For additional information about these options contact the author.
References:
1. Postural development in school children: a cross-sectional study. Chiropr Osteopat. 2007; 15:1 (ISSN: 1746-1340)_
2. Prevalence and risk factors of poor posture in school children in the Czech Republic. J Sch Health. 2007; 77(3): 131-7 (ISSN:0022-4391)
3. SPINE, 2005
4. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2004
5.American Journal of Pain Management, 1994
6. Archives of Internal Medicine 2007
Joseph Ventura D.C. is owner of PostureSoftware.com, a 32 -year-old company that develops software and marketing strategies for the chiropractic profession. Dr. Ventura can be reached at (888) 713-2093 or at sales@posturepro.com
If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Luke Reineck follow the link to the online appointment request - Click Here
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Unorganized Brain and its Effect on ADHD.
Neurological Dysregulation is a term used to describe the improper or random and unorganized firing of neurons in the brain. When this occurs in people, the tense unbalanced nervous system tends to cause irregular activation patterns in the brain. This then results in atypical brain wave patterns. One of the most common and studied examples of this altered brain wave pattern would be in children with ADHD.
Recently, the use of ADHD as a diagnosis has skyrocketed. This can be partially due to better ways of diagnosing this issue, the increase in children with neurobehavioral problems, environmental factors and so on. Here are the facts on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
· Behavior disorder emerges before the age of seven.
· Symptoms include inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive behaviors.
· ADHD is not a reflection of a child’s intelligence nor caused by bad parenting.
· ADHD is more common in people who have a close relative with the condition.
· Twice as many boys are diagnosed with ADHD as girls.
There are three categories that ADHD can present itself as.
1. Combined Type (Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive). Children with this type of ADHD show all three symptoms. This is the most common form of ADHD.
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive Type. Children show both hyperactive and impulsive behavior, but are able to pay attention.
3. Inattentive Type. Formerly known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), these children are not overly active. They do not disrupt the classroom or other activities, so their symptoms might not be noticed.
Theta Beta Ratio Study for ADHD/ADD
Study consisted of 482 test subjects having EEG studies done to measure brain wave activity. This was later replicated with 440 subjects. Control subjects in this study had a normal theta to beta brain wave ratio of 3:1. Children who were properly diagnosed with ADHD and ADD using traditional criteria had a T/B ratio of 9:1. This means that during the study when the child was given a book to read within 10 seconds their EEG drops into theta waves, showing lack of focus. Typically, when focusing a person may have more elevated beta waves as those tend to be produced when you are awake, alert, externally focused, problem solving, and attentive. In conclusion, in more than 25 recent studies 86% of children with ADD/ADHD produce higher than normal levels of theta waves.
What does this mean for chiropractic care?
Studies show the effectiveness of chiropractic on the normalization of brain wave activity using an EEG. We now know that proper function of the central nervous system is dependent upon mechanoreceptive input from the joints and muscles. Mechanoreception is what feeds information to the brain of all the sensory coming into the body from various stimuli. In short, without proper mechanoreception neurological stress and possible unorganized brain waves then occur. Chiropractic care promotes mechanoreception and therefore is a possible therapy to help your child with ADD/ADHD!
Recently, the use of ADHD as a diagnosis has skyrocketed. This can be partially due to better ways of diagnosing this issue, the increase in children with neurobehavioral problems, environmental factors and so on. Here are the facts on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:
· Behavior disorder emerges before the age of seven.
· Symptoms include inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive behaviors.
· ADHD is not a reflection of a child’s intelligence nor caused by bad parenting.
· ADHD is more common in people who have a close relative with the condition.
· Twice as many boys are diagnosed with ADHD as girls.
There are three categories that ADHD can present itself as.
1. Combined Type (Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive). Children with this type of ADHD show all three symptoms. This is the most common form of ADHD.
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive Type. Children show both hyperactive and impulsive behavior, but are able to pay attention.
3. Inattentive Type. Formerly known as attention deficit disorder (ADD), these children are not overly active. They do not disrupt the classroom or other activities, so their symptoms might not be noticed.
Theta Beta Ratio Study for ADHD/ADD
Study consisted of 482 test subjects having EEG studies done to measure brain wave activity. This was later replicated with 440 subjects. Control subjects in this study had a normal theta to beta brain wave ratio of 3:1. Children who were properly diagnosed with ADHD and ADD using traditional criteria had a T/B ratio of 9:1. This means that during the study when the child was given a book to read within 10 seconds their EEG drops into theta waves, showing lack of focus. Typically, when focusing a person may have more elevated beta waves as those tend to be produced when you are awake, alert, externally focused, problem solving, and attentive. In conclusion, in more than 25 recent studies 86% of children with ADD/ADHD produce higher than normal levels of theta waves.
What does this mean for chiropractic care?
Studies show the effectiveness of chiropractic on the normalization of brain wave activity using an EEG. We now know that proper function of the central nervous system is dependent upon mechanoreceptive input from the joints and muscles. Mechanoreception is what feeds information to the brain of all the sensory coming into the body from various stimuli. In short, without proper mechanoreception neurological stress and possible unorganized brain waves then occur. Chiropractic care promotes mechanoreception and therefore is a possible therapy to help your child with ADD/ADHD!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Chiropractic relates to brain function? Deeper than most thought.
Our brain is the command center for everything that happens in the body. It receives information 24/7 from all areas of the body. Every muscle, organ, cell in the body has the ability to communicate with the brain and vice versa via the nervous system. Having the ability to touch our nose with our eyes closed, walking in a straight line, or jumping and landing on one foot, all relate to the nervous system. These actions can take place because in every muscle, joint and tendon there are thousands of receptors that communicate to our brain about where our body is and what is moving. These special receptors give our brain proprioceptive input (sensory information) to allow us to move, walk, jump, and run while maintaining perfect balance and coordination. The same proprioceptive input often referred by chiropractor’s as mechanoreception gives the brain information about the spine and how freely its functioning in a pain free manner. The point of this scientific talk is to point out that Chiropractic is affecting input to the brain. The Chiropractic adjustment is not about the “pop” or “crack” it’s about the movement or stimulation of key receptors that are located in the joint space of every joint. When your neck, for example, is not moving because you slept awkward those mechanoreceptors are not functioning. Therefore other receptors turn on creating pain, muscle spasm, and even sympathetic vasoconstriction to organs (creates lack of oxygen to organs). You are correct this is BAD! For instance, those muscle knots in your neck and back hurt due to lack of oxygen to the muscle and inability to circulate waste products out. The more efficient we are with this the better we will feel and function.
So what happens if you don’t go to a Chiropractor?
This may be different depending on several issues. How well do you handle and process stress in your life, diet, exercise, posture, amount of water you drink, or amount of other things you drink like coffee and soda. The point I’m trying to make is not whether or not you are going to be worse off than someone who goes to a Chiropractor. Well maybe? But more because of the research we see that Chiropractic is much more than pain relief. By understanding pain and how the brain perceives pain, we have learned so much more about the Chiropractic adjustment. A study presented at the International Research and Philosophy Symposium finds that Chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on the Central Nervous System (Brain and Spinal Cord), specifically on the four primary frequencies of brain function. The study was conducted over a three-year period with over 100 volunteers. Using an electroencephalogram (EEG – measures brain wave activity) before and after Chiropractic adjustments the EEG scans were examined to check right/left balance, the amount of total activity, and the effect of the adjustment. In conclusion, after receiving Chiropractic adjustments, post EEG scans revealed improvement in all areas of the volunteer’s brain function. Particularly, the researchers noticed an increase in the meditative Alpha brainwave patterns that are associated with a greater degree of relaxation, health and healing. So by receiving proper Chiropractic care you are not only fixing back problems but also allowing the brain to work in a way that promotes overall health and healing! Research has allowed Chiropractic to substantiate what Chiropractor’s have known for 125 years. The adjustment can provide a state in which the body can heal itself!!!
So what happens if you don’t go to a Chiropractor?
This may be different depending on several issues. How well do you handle and process stress in your life, diet, exercise, posture, amount of water you drink, or amount of other things you drink like coffee and soda. The point I’m trying to make is not whether or not you are going to be worse off than someone who goes to a Chiropractor. Well maybe? But more because of the research we see that Chiropractic is much more than pain relief. By understanding pain and how the brain perceives pain, we have learned so much more about the Chiropractic adjustment. A study presented at the International Research and Philosophy Symposium finds that Chiropractic adjustments have a positive effect on the Central Nervous System (Brain and Spinal Cord), specifically on the four primary frequencies of brain function. The study was conducted over a three-year period with over 100 volunteers. Using an electroencephalogram (EEG – measures brain wave activity) before and after Chiropractic adjustments the EEG scans were examined to check right/left balance, the amount of total activity, and the effect of the adjustment. In conclusion, after receiving Chiropractic adjustments, post EEG scans revealed improvement in all areas of the volunteer’s brain function. Particularly, the researchers noticed an increase in the meditative Alpha brainwave patterns that are associated with a greater degree of relaxation, health and healing. So by receiving proper Chiropractic care you are not only fixing back problems but also allowing the brain to work in a way that promotes overall health and healing! Research has allowed Chiropractic to substantiate what Chiropractor’s have known for 125 years. The adjustment can provide a state in which the body can heal itself!!!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Neck Pain: Chiropractors, Exercise Better Than Medication, Study Says
Neck Pain: Chiropractors, Exercise Better Than Medication, Study Says: When it comes to neck pain the best medicine is no medicine at all according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, tracked 272 patients with recent-onset neck pain who were treated using...
Thursday, December 22, 2011
The Ugly Truth About Casein Protein
By Ori Hofmekler
Ori's new book Unlock Your Muscle Gene is now available at Amazon.com and bookstores nationwide.
Unlock Your Muscle Gene: Trigger the Biological Mechanisms that Transform Your Body and Extend Your Life
If you're an athlete, a fitness advocate or a dieter who routinely uses protein supplements, there's a good chance your supplement is made with a bad ingredient.
That ingredient is called casein.
So what exactly is casein?
Casein is the main protein in raw milk. It is typically extracted via acid heat processing and used as a common ingredient in protein products - powders, bars and drinks. You may have been told that casein supplementation is highly beneficial for your muscle and body, but I'm here to prove to you that nothing is further from the truth.
What's Wrong With the Typical Casein in Sport Nutrition Supplements?
It's an inferior protein, often drenched with toxic residues. In fact, it's one of the worst proteins for your muscle.
This report reveals some of the dirtiest secrets behind casein manufacturing. If you're serious with your diet and training regimen, you owe it to yourself to know these facts before purchasing another casein-containing protein.
You may have already been noticing some of the side effects involved with casein ingestion - heart burn, bad after taste, indigestion, allergies ... Or you may have been thinking "I'm ok with my protein and I don't even care if it contains casein" …
There are many individuals who honestly want to believe that their protein is okay, but what they may not be aware of is that protein manufacturers have been routinely taking advantage of their trust. And in the case of casein …
They Sell You Nothing More Than Garbage With A Fancy Label
Why garbage? Because it's cheap. They use the least costly methods to extract the casein. They use cheap chemical acids found in fertilizers and household cleaning products.
It all comes down to one word: GREED.
It costs them about 10 times less than what you pay. Their profits are around 10,000% - a huge margin, similar to that of drug companies - and all this on your account. And they don't just rip you off financially, they also jeopardize your health and they rob you of your hard-earned gains.
This report is not the typical fitness article - You won't be able to get this information anywhere else. The reason: the manufacturers of this protein are some of the biggest sponsors of the fitness media-magazines, radio, Internet, etc. One thing's for sure, they're not interested in your education.
They Don't Want You to Know the Truth About Casein
But you can't allow yourself to overlook this. You probably work hard to keep yourself in shape and you certainly need to know what you're putting in your body. Casein has obtained the reputation of a highly nutritious protein with distinct anabolic properties. It has been used as a common ingredient in sport nutrition products to support athletic performance, increase muscle mass, and prevent muscle breakdown.
But is casein as good as claimed?
Can it build your muscle?
And is it worth your money?
There are three types of casein - native whole milk casein, cheese casein and industrial casein. As you'll soon see, there is a huge difference between these three types of protein - both nutritionally and health-wise.
Native Whole Milk Casein - Your Best Bet
Native casein is the primary protein in raw milk, accounting for nearly 80% of the milk's amino acid content. In its native form in raw milk, casein occurs along with whey to yield a most functional protein - naturally designed to nourish and promote healthy growth of the mammalian young. Raw milk casein is made out of a complex group of protein clusters called "micells," which are bound with calcium, phosphate and citrate ions and exist at a neutral pH of about 6.6 - about the same as your body's pH.
Hence, native casein complements your body's acid-base balance and will not cause an overly acidifying effect. That's unlike most industrial caseins, which are highly acidifying and need to be chemically alkalized to be edible. But what's especially unique about native casein is its distinct anabolic properties.
Native Casein is One of the Most Effective Muscle-Building Proteins
It has the ability to form a clot in your stomach, which provides slow, sustained release of amino acids to your circulation for several hours. Note that it's the concentration of circulating amino acids (not cellular amino acid) that has been found to trigger muscle anabolism. This makes raw milk casein one of the most effective proteins for muscle retention and buildup. It can be used to keep your muscle in a sustained anabolic mode for a prolonged period of time - such as during the sleeping hours of the night.
Protein manufacturers have been trying to produce products that mimic native casein. The most notable ones are milk protein concentrate (MPC) and micellar casein.
Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) -- As Close to Native Casein as You Can Get
Milk protein concentrate (MPC) is a whole protein produced by membrane filtration of milk. The ultrafiltration yields a protein end product that contains casein and whey - virtually the same as in the milk that it's derived from. MPC is outstandingly stable.
Milk protein concentrate has virtually the same properties of native casein.
It keeps the original ratio between casein and whey protein and maintains a neutral to alkaline pH in a stable, water-soluble state, which is highly resilient to damage by heat.
The best MPC products are those derived from raw milk of pasture-fed cows.
Raw milk products from pasture-fed cows, such as whey and milk protein concentrate, grant better integrity of the protein matrix as well as lipid composition. Raw milk protein concentrate keeps all fragile immuno-factors and amino acids intact and it's devoid of the enzyme xanthine oxidase (a byproduct of milk homogenization that has been linked to cardiovascular and degenerative diseases).
The other product that attempts to mimic native casein is micellar casein. Micellar casein is a relatively new product and considered to be the highest quality casein available. But is it indeed? We'll cover this product soon along with other types of industrial casein. We're still left with another type of whole milk casein - cheese casein.
Cheese Casein: Great Food for Your Muscle - Almost as Effective as Native Casein
Cheese casein is not the same as raw milk casein. During cheese manufacturing, the casein is enzymatically separated from the whey and cleaved out of important peptides (glycomacropeptides), but the remaining curd is nevertheless a whole, complete protein. And similar to native casein, it has a slow and efficient nutrient delivery and thus can yield a long-lasting nitrogen retention and utilization in your muscle. Given this, cheese can be an ideal food for keeping your muscle in a sustained anabolic state during the sleeping hours of the night.
Next, we'll review industrial casein; there are several kinds of industrial casein that you need to take a look at.
Industrial Casein Overview
Unlike whole milk caseins (native casein and cheese casein), all industrial caseins are protein isolates, most of which are extracted from ultra-pasteurized milk often via extreme acid/heat processing. The typical industrial casein is a deficient protein lacking the essential amino acid methionine and the conditionally essential amino acid cysteine, both of which are lost in processing. These sulfur-containing amino acids play key roles in sustaining your body's immune system.
This indicates from the start that industrial casein is inferior to native casein and cheese casein.
All industrial casein powders are derived from skim milk (a byproduct of cream manufacturing). In the processing, the cream is first separated from the milk by means of centrifuges and the remaining skim milk thus serves as the raw material from which industrial casein products are extracted.
Casein products are typically precipitated by means of acidification using chemical acids (hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid) or natural acids (lactic acid). The acid precipitants cause destabilization of the micells in the milk, leading to coagulation of the protein. Some casein products are not precipitated via acid but rather via enzymes or microfiltration. These are called rennet casein and micellar casein, respectively. Let's review the different kinds of industrial casein and see how viable they are in respect to their protein integrity and nourishing potential.
Acid Casein - An Insoluble, Inedible Protein
There are two kinds of acid casein - chemical acid casein and lactic acid casein - both are insoluble in water. Since most applications of casein require them to be water soluble, manufacturers treat acid casein with alkalies to yield a water-soluble product with a higher pH called caseinate.
Chemical Acid Casein - The Cheapest And Worst Casein
Chemical acid casein is precipitated with chemical acids - hydrochloric and sulfuric acid - both are products of the chemical industry and used mainly due to their cheap cost. Even in New Zealand, which has a very small chemical industry, manufacturers extract casein with sulfuric acid - a chemical produced in comparatively large quantities by the fertilizer industry.
Chemical acid casein is probably the "dirtiest" among all commercial proteins.
What casein manufacturers fail to tell you is that the residues of these chemicals remain in the final casein product even after the washing and milling of the curd - which explains the typical acid aftertaste of many casein products.
Note that sulfuric acid is a highly toxic substance found in acid rain and mine drainage.
It's considered an industrial hazard that causes skin burns, erosion of teeth, chronic damage to the respiratory tract, depletion of vitamin B12 and possibly neural damage. The other precipitant, hydrochloric acid, is used as detergent for household cleaning as well as a chemical reagent in the production of vinyl chloride for PVC plastic. The chemical hydrochloric acid has a corrosive effect on human tissues with potential damaging effects on the respiratory organs, eyes, skin and intestines.
These are some of the facts casein manufacturers do not want you to know -- and there are even more reasons for you to be concerned with the processing of this product.
After the casein has been precipitated by acid, the mixture is heated again. This causes the protein to further thermolyze and degrade into smaller components ("a nitrogen soup"), which agglomerate together to form clumps of curd. The curd is then dewatered via pressing or high-sheer centrifuging. At this point, the casein is pretty much "beaten" by acid, heat and high-sheer centrifuging, which literally destroy the integrity of the protein matrix.
What remains is a protein mess contaminated with toxic chemicals that are used to clean toilets or manufacture fertilizers.
This protein then goes through a drying process where it's even more thermolyzed by hot air (via several drying treatments) followed by milling, shifting, blending and bagging. As a protein consumer you need to know this. You need to know what kind of stuff you're putting in your body.
Lactic Acid Casein - A Cleaner Alternative But Nevertheless Inferior
Lactic acid casein is a byproduct of milk fermentation. In this case, the casein is extracted via natural processing. The skim milk goes first through pasteurization and then is cooled and inoculated with several strains of lactic-acid-producing bacteria known as "starters." The milk is fermented for a period of 14-16 hours during which much of the lactose in the milk is converted to lactic acid and the pH is reduced to about 4.6, causing coagulation of the casein.
The problem with this processing is in the fermentation of the milk. It has been commonly assumed that milk fermentation is healthy and beneficial due to the fact that it yields probiotic/digestive-supporting properties. But the fact is that milk fermentation is not as "simple and healthy" as commonly thought.
Milk fermentation damages fragile immuno peptides and amino acids and creates MSG.
And if that's not bad enough, the protein matrix is further "cooked" and thermolyzed by means of heat exchanger and steam injection. Following the heat treatment, the resultant curd is washed, dried and milled in a similar manner to chemical acid casein. Lactic acid casein is not as "contaminated" as chemical acid casein, but it's nevertheless damaged by fermentation and thermolyzation - yielding a deficient protein with MSG.
Caseinate - A Water-Soluble Version of Acid Casein With Even More Defaults
To be commercially viable, all acid caseins must be treated with alkalies. This process yields a water-soluble product - hence, caseinate. The most common caseinates are calcium caseinate and sodium caseinate - treated with the chemicals calcium hydroxide and solium hydroxide, respectively. The problem with chemical alkalies is that they act like "anti-nutrients" - damaging or suppressing nutrient absorption.
In Dutch chocolate for instance, the alkali causes destruction of antioxidant polyphenols rendering the product nutritionally inferior. And there is another problem with this protein -- Caseinates are ultra-thermolyzed by extreme heat.
The processing of caseinates requires the use of extremely high heat of 95ºC, which is near boiling temperatures. The exposure to high heat is a cheap way to decrease the viscosity of the caseinate and improve its solubility.
However cheap processing is often fatal to quality. The extreme heat treatment renders the caseinate an ultra thermolyzed protein drenched with MSG (a byproduct of protein thermolyzation).
Note that ultra thermolyzed casein has been linked to increased risk of colon cancer. Thermolyzed casein is a highly denatured protein that can't be fully digested by your stomach, causing undigested protein residues to "escape" your stomach and reach your colon - where they're fermented by colonic bacteria into highly carcinogenic phenolic compounds that promote colonic tumors and cancer.
Products Containing Caseinates
Following are common caseinate-containing products
Baking goods Coffee whiteners and creamers Yogurts Spreads
Ice creams and frozen desserts Cheese products Infant foods Pasta
Meat products Soups and gravies Whipped toppings Protein powders
Protein bars Sport drinks
Rennet Casein - Less Damaged Than Acid Casein But Still Problematic
Next is a natural casein product that is not precipitated with acid. Called "rennet casein," it's extracted via milk clotting enzymes, also called rennet enzymes.
Rennet casein is generally less damaged than acid casein. It isn't exposed to the low pH as acid casein, but it's nevertheless a protein isolate, typically derived from pasteurized milk. Here is how rennet casein is processed …
Following the pasteurization, the skim milk is cooled to a setting temperature, where calf rennet or microbial rennet enzymes are added and mixed thoroughly until the protein coagulates. This process is virtually the same as that of cheese manufacturing.
And as with cheese manufacturing, the enzymatic precipitation cleaves a most important part of the casein protein called glycomacropeptide. This peptide is a highly beneficial component of native casein - being a great source of immune supportive and satiety-enhancing nutrients.
This is how the protein cleavage technically occurs.
Casein is made out of three kinds of proteins:
α - casein
ß - casein
k - casein
K-casein works like a stabilizing agent, keeping the native casein protein matrix in a stable, water-soluble state. During the first state of renneting, the enzymes specifically cleave one of the bonds in k-casein, releasing part of the protein chain - glycomacropeptide - into the whey liquid. This action destabilizes the casein micells, which then form a clot with some of the calcium ions of the milk.
What's left is a casein curd devoid of its glycomacropeptides, which is then cooked and thermolyzed similar to acid casein. This means that on final evaluation rennet casein is a low-grade protein subjected to protein cleavage and thermolyzation.
And note that the casein's glycomacropeptides are "donated" during the processing to the whey liquid, which ironically increases the biological value and nutritional properties of the whey on the account of the original casein donor.
Next we'll take a look at casein hydrolystate. This product is highly popular these days due to its "easy to digest, fast to assimilate" properties. But is it better than other caseins?
Casein Hydrolystate - Faster to Assimilate but Nutritionally Inferior
Casein hydrolystate, also known as hydrolyzed casein, is a predigested protein treated with proteolytic enzymes. It is generally used in nutritional and pharmaceutical applications as easily digestible, fast-assimilating protein. Unlike other casein products, hydrolyzed casein has a fast assimilation rate similar to whey protein. Nonetheless, this protein has virtually the same problems as the other casein products.
Hydrolyzed Casein is an Inferior Protein Isolate, Drenched With MSG Byproduct of Hydrolyzation
Recent studies have shown that hydrolyzed casein is no match to whey protein. Researchers found that whey protein outperforms all casein products including hydrolyzed casein in the capacity to promote muscle protein accretion after meal ingestion. This means that in spite of being as fast assimilating as whey protein, hydrolyzed casein has a "weaker" anabolic effect - most likely due to an inferior protein content.
Finally, let's take a look at micellar casein. Micellar casein, also referred to as native phosphocasein, has been promoted by the sport nutrition industry as the epitome protein for building muscle and preventing muscle waste. But is it as superior as claimed?
Micellar Casein - Premium Casein with Poor Functionality and Stability
Micellar casein is processed similar to milk protein concentrate, but in this case the casein micells are separated from the whey via microfiltration. The main problem with micellar casein is in its functional properties.
Micellar casein has poor functionality due to poor solubility in water.
Let me explain.
It's important that the functionality of the protein is retained during drying, storage and reconstitution (mixing with fluid). Generally the protein powder needs to be dispersed and dissolved to be fully functional and edible as an ingredient. Micellar casein has poor reconstitution - which means poor capacity to dissolve in water at low temperatures.
The cheapest way to address this problem and increase the casein solubility is the use of high heat or high sheer. This is apparently what manufacturers use in the case of canned protein production. Additional methods include heat treating prior to membrane filtration, and the addition of salt, sodium caseinate or polydextrose - all of which increase the solubility of the powder on the account of the protein integrity.
The other problem with micellar casein is instability, as micellar casein tends to deteriorate with increased storage time.
Microstructural analysis shows that with increased storage time, the casein micells interact with each other and deteriorate. Micells' interactions lead to cross-linking of proteins, migration of fat particles to the surface, and degradation of the casein. This means that though micellar casein is acclaimed to be superior to other industrial caseins, it is yet unstable and thus inferior to native casein and cheese casein. And it may contain undesirable additive residues, such as salts, sodium caseinate, and polydextrose.
Do your own investigation before purchasing a micellar casein product. Ask the product provider for an updated certificate of analysis (CofA) and an independent lab report that proves the product's protein integrity.
Final Notes and Conclusions
Whole casein such as in raw milk, milk protein concentrate and aged cheese, is superior to all casein isolates. Whole casein has a very effective nutrient delivery and can be used to yield a steady, long-lasting anabolic effect on your muscle.
Fresh cheese casein such as in cottage cheese is also a viable whole protein, high in muscle-building BCAA and leucine - albeit with a lower pH and lower nutritional value than native casein and raw aged cheese casein. The main advantage of cottage cheese is its high ratio of protein to fat. Pound for pound, you simply get more protein from cottage cheese than from milk or aged cheese.
The worst casein is chemical acid casein. All products in this category should be avoided as they're degraded and drenched with dangerous chemical residues.
All caseinates are ultra-thermolyzed and thus present a serious health risk. Consumption of thermolyzed casein has been linked to increased incidence of colonic tumors and cancer.
How to Get the Best Out of Casein, Cheese and Whey
To get the best out of casein and whey, incorporate the following protocol: During the day, use quality whey protein for muscle nourishment and post-exercise recovery. At night, use casein such as in quality cheese to keep your muscle in a sustained anabolic mode during the sleeping hours.
The reasons: during the day and after exercise your muscle needs fast-assimilating protein and immuno factors such as in quality whey to counteract the catabolic effect of daily stressors and physical exercise on your muscle and grant protein deposit toward recovery and growth.
Slow proteins such as casein have shown to be less effective than whey protein in supporting your body's immune defenses and promoting muscle protein synthesis after exercise. Nonetheless, cheese casein has the anabolic advantage in the long term, and that's due to its ability to induce a slow steady release of amino acids to your muscle for several hours at a time. Therefore cheese casein can serve as an ideal muscle food during the sleeping hours of the night.
Your quality cheese products should come from premium, preferably raw aged cheese such as cheddar, colby, gouda, swiss and emmanthal, or fresh cheese such as organic cottage cheese from pasture-fed cows.
Avoid dietary products containing casein hydrolystates. Read the labels of sports drinks, ready-made protein drinks, protein powders and protein bars - many of these items are made with casein hydrolystate as a main ingredient and are therefore drenched with MSG.
Beware of the A1-A2 Milk Issue
It has been argued that casein from A1 milk presents a health risk - apparently due to yielding a metabolic byproduct (opioid peptide) called beta casomorphine, which has been linked to brain disorders and disease particularly among babies and infants.
Most U.S. dairy products are from A1 milk unless stated that they're produced from A2 milk such as of Guernsey or Jersey cows. European dairy products, however, (which include French, Swiss and Italian cheeses) are mostly derived from A2 milk. It has been recommended as a precautionary step to choose dairy products from A2 milk.
But let's put things in perspective. There is no conclusive evidence yet to the A1 casein issue, and if there is indeed a proven problem with A1 milk, most likely the same problem will apply to A2 milk as well.
The truth is that even A2 cows like Guernsey produce about 50% A1 milk. So if the A1 milk risk exists, it will apply to all kinds of casein products.
As a final note, be aware that historical epidemiology has been indicating great benefits of dairy products (milk, cheese and whey) on human health, particularly in the areas of weight management, cardiovascular health and muscle conditioning.
Visit www.defensenutrition.com if you would like more info.
Ori's new book Unlock Your Muscle Gene is now available at Amazon.com and bookstores nationwide.
Unlock Your Muscle Gene: Trigger the Biological Mechanisms that Transform Your Body and Extend Your Life
If you're an athlete, a fitness advocate or a dieter who routinely uses protein supplements, there's a good chance your supplement is made with a bad ingredient.
That ingredient is called casein.
So what exactly is casein?
Casein is the main protein in raw milk. It is typically extracted via acid heat processing and used as a common ingredient in protein products - powders, bars and drinks. You may have been told that casein supplementation is highly beneficial for your muscle and body, but I'm here to prove to you that nothing is further from the truth.
What's Wrong With the Typical Casein in Sport Nutrition Supplements?
It's an inferior protein, often drenched with toxic residues. In fact, it's one of the worst proteins for your muscle.
This report reveals some of the dirtiest secrets behind casein manufacturing. If you're serious with your diet and training regimen, you owe it to yourself to know these facts before purchasing another casein-containing protein.
You may have already been noticing some of the side effects involved with casein ingestion - heart burn, bad after taste, indigestion, allergies ... Or you may have been thinking "I'm ok with my protein and I don't even care if it contains casein" …
There are many individuals who honestly want to believe that their protein is okay, but what they may not be aware of is that protein manufacturers have been routinely taking advantage of their trust. And in the case of casein …
They Sell You Nothing More Than Garbage With A Fancy Label
Why garbage? Because it's cheap. They use the least costly methods to extract the casein. They use cheap chemical acids found in fertilizers and household cleaning products.
It all comes down to one word: GREED.
It costs them about 10 times less than what you pay. Their profits are around 10,000% - a huge margin, similar to that of drug companies - and all this on your account. And they don't just rip you off financially, they also jeopardize your health and they rob you of your hard-earned gains.
This report is not the typical fitness article - You won't be able to get this information anywhere else. The reason: the manufacturers of this protein are some of the biggest sponsors of the fitness media-magazines, radio, Internet, etc. One thing's for sure, they're not interested in your education.
They Don't Want You to Know the Truth About Casein
But you can't allow yourself to overlook this. You probably work hard to keep yourself in shape and you certainly need to know what you're putting in your body. Casein has obtained the reputation of a highly nutritious protein with distinct anabolic properties. It has been used as a common ingredient in sport nutrition products to support athletic performance, increase muscle mass, and prevent muscle breakdown.
But is casein as good as claimed?
Can it build your muscle?
And is it worth your money?
There are three types of casein - native whole milk casein, cheese casein and industrial casein. As you'll soon see, there is a huge difference between these three types of protein - both nutritionally and health-wise.
Native Whole Milk Casein - Your Best Bet
Native casein is the primary protein in raw milk, accounting for nearly 80% of the milk's amino acid content. In its native form in raw milk, casein occurs along with whey to yield a most functional protein - naturally designed to nourish and promote healthy growth of the mammalian young. Raw milk casein is made out of a complex group of protein clusters called "micells," which are bound with calcium, phosphate and citrate ions and exist at a neutral pH of about 6.6 - about the same as your body's pH.
Hence, native casein complements your body's acid-base balance and will not cause an overly acidifying effect. That's unlike most industrial caseins, which are highly acidifying and need to be chemically alkalized to be edible. But what's especially unique about native casein is its distinct anabolic properties.
Native Casein is One of the Most Effective Muscle-Building Proteins
It has the ability to form a clot in your stomach, which provides slow, sustained release of amino acids to your circulation for several hours. Note that it's the concentration of circulating amino acids (not cellular amino acid) that has been found to trigger muscle anabolism. This makes raw milk casein one of the most effective proteins for muscle retention and buildup. It can be used to keep your muscle in a sustained anabolic mode for a prolonged period of time - such as during the sleeping hours of the night.
Protein manufacturers have been trying to produce products that mimic native casein. The most notable ones are milk protein concentrate (MPC) and micellar casein.
Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) -- As Close to Native Casein as You Can Get
Milk protein concentrate (MPC) is a whole protein produced by membrane filtration of milk. The ultrafiltration yields a protein end product that contains casein and whey - virtually the same as in the milk that it's derived from. MPC is outstandingly stable.
Milk protein concentrate has virtually the same properties of native casein.
It keeps the original ratio between casein and whey protein and maintains a neutral to alkaline pH in a stable, water-soluble state, which is highly resilient to damage by heat.
The best MPC products are those derived from raw milk of pasture-fed cows.
Raw milk products from pasture-fed cows, such as whey and milk protein concentrate, grant better integrity of the protein matrix as well as lipid composition. Raw milk protein concentrate keeps all fragile immuno-factors and amino acids intact and it's devoid of the enzyme xanthine oxidase (a byproduct of milk homogenization that has been linked to cardiovascular and degenerative diseases).
The other product that attempts to mimic native casein is micellar casein. Micellar casein is a relatively new product and considered to be the highest quality casein available. But is it indeed? We'll cover this product soon along with other types of industrial casein. We're still left with another type of whole milk casein - cheese casein.
Cheese Casein: Great Food for Your Muscle - Almost as Effective as Native Casein
Cheese casein is not the same as raw milk casein. During cheese manufacturing, the casein is enzymatically separated from the whey and cleaved out of important peptides (glycomacropeptides), but the remaining curd is nevertheless a whole, complete protein. And similar to native casein, it has a slow and efficient nutrient delivery and thus can yield a long-lasting nitrogen retention and utilization in your muscle. Given this, cheese can be an ideal food for keeping your muscle in a sustained anabolic state during the sleeping hours of the night.
Next, we'll review industrial casein; there are several kinds of industrial casein that you need to take a look at.
Industrial Casein Overview
Unlike whole milk caseins (native casein and cheese casein), all industrial caseins are protein isolates, most of which are extracted from ultra-pasteurized milk often via extreme acid/heat processing. The typical industrial casein is a deficient protein lacking the essential amino acid methionine and the conditionally essential amino acid cysteine, both of which are lost in processing. These sulfur-containing amino acids play key roles in sustaining your body's immune system.
This indicates from the start that industrial casein is inferior to native casein and cheese casein.
All industrial casein powders are derived from skim milk (a byproduct of cream manufacturing). In the processing, the cream is first separated from the milk by means of centrifuges and the remaining skim milk thus serves as the raw material from which industrial casein products are extracted.
Casein products are typically precipitated by means of acidification using chemical acids (hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid) or natural acids (lactic acid). The acid precipitants cause destabilization of the micells in the milk, leading to coagulation of the protein. Some casein products are not precipitated via acid but rather via enzymes or microfiltration. These are called rennet casein and micellar casein, respectively. Let's review the different kinds of industrial casein and see how viable they are in respect to their protein integrity and nourishing potential.
Acid Casein - An Insoluble, Inedible Protein
There are two kinds of acid casein - chemical acid casein and lactic acid casein - both are insoluble in water. Since most applications of casein require them to be water soluble, manufacturers treat acid casein with alkalies to yield a water-soluble product with a higher pH called caseinate.
Chemical Acid Casein - The Cheapest And Worst Casein
Chemical acid casein is precipitated with chemical acids - hydrochloric and sulfuric acid - both are products of the chemical industry and used mainly due to their cheap cost. Even in New Zealand, which has a very small chemical industry, manufacturers extract casein with sulfuric acid - a chemical produced in comparatively large quantities by the fertilizer industry.
Chemical acid casein is probably the "dirtiest" among all commercial proteins.
What casein manufacturers fail to tell you is that the residues of these chemicals remain in the final casein product even after the washing and milling of the curd - which explains the typical acid aftertaste of many casein products.
Note that sulfuric acid is a highly toxic substance found in acid rain and mine drainage.
It's considered an industrial hazard that causes skin burns, erosion of teeth, chronic damage to the respiratory tract, depletion of vitamin B12 and possibly neural damage. The other precipitant, hydrochloric acid, is used as detergent for household cleaning as well as a chemical reagent in the production of vinyl chloride for PVC plastic. The chemical hydrochloric acid has a corrosive effect on human tissues with potential damaging effects on the respiratory organs, eyes, skin and intestines.
These are some of the facts casein manufacturers do not want you to know -- and there are even more reasons for you to be concerned with the processing of this product.
After the casein has been precipitated by acid, the mixture is heated again. This causes the protein to further thermolyze and degrade into smaller components ("a nitrogen soup"), which agglomerate together to form clumps of curd. The curd is then dewatered via pressing or high-sheer centrifuging. At this point, the casein is pretty much "beaten" by acid, heat and high-sheer centrifuging, which literally destroy the integrity of the protein matrix.
What remains is a protein mess contaminated with toxic chemicals that are used to clean toilets or manufacture fertilizers.
This protein then goes through a drying process where it's even more thermolyzed by hot air (via several drying treatments) followed by milling, shifting, blending and bagging. As a protein consumer you need to know this. You need to know what kind of stuff you're putting in your body.
Lactic Acid Casein - A Cleaner Alternative But Nevertheless Inferior
Lactic acid casein is a byproduct of milk fermentation. In this case, the casein is extracted via natural processing. The skim milk goes first through pasteurization and then is cooled and inoculated with several strains of lactic-acid-producing bacteria known as "starters." The milk is fermented for a period of 14-16 hours during which much of the lactose in the milk is converted to lactic acid and the pH is reduced to about 4.6, causing coagulation of the casein.
The problem with this processing is in the fermentation of the milk. It has been commonly assumed that milk fermentation is healthy and beneficial due to the fact that it yields probiotic/digestive-supporting properties. But the fact is that milk fermentation is not as "simple and healthy" as commonly thought.
Milk fermentation damages fragile immuno peptides and amino acids and creates MSG.
And if that's not bad enough, the protein matrix is further "cooked" and thermolyzed by means of heat exchanger and steam injection. Following the heat treatment, the resultant curd is washed, dried and milled in a similar manner to chemical acid casein. Lactic acid casein is not as "contaminated" as chemical acid casein, but it's nevertheless damaged by fermentation and thermolyzation - yielding a deficient protein with MSG.
Caseinate - A Water-Soluble Version of Acid Casein With Even More Defaults
To be commercially viable, all acid caseins must be treated with alkalies. This process yields a water-soluble product - hence, caseinate. The most common caseinates are calcium caseinate and sodium caseinate - treated with the chemicals calcium hydroxide and solium hydroxide, respectively. The problem with chemical alkalies is that they act like "anti-nutrients" - damaging or suppressing nutrient absorption.
In Dutch chocolate for instance, the alkali causes destruction of antioxidant polyphenols rendering the product nutritionally inferior. And there is another problem with this protein -- Caseinates are ultra-thermolyzed by extreme heat.
The processing of caseinates requires the use of extremely high heat of 95ºC, which is near boiling temperatures. The exposure to high heat is a cheap way to decrease the viscosity of the caseinate and improve its solubility.
However cheap processing is often fatal to quality. The extreme heat treatment renders the caseinate an ultra thermolyzed protein drenched with MSG (a byproduct of protein thermolyzation).
Note that ultra thermolyzed casein has been linked to increased risk of colon cancer. Thermolyzed casein is a highly denatured protein that can't be fully digested by your stomach, causing undigested protein residues to "escape" your stomach and reach your colon - where they're fermented by colonic bacteria into highly carcinogenic phenolic compounds that promote colonic tumors and cancer.
Products Containing Caseinates
Following are common caseinate-containing products
Baking goods Coffee whiteners and creamers Yogurts Spreads
Ice creams and frozen desserts Cheese products Infant foods Pasta
Meat products Soups and gravies Whipped toppings Protein powders
Protein bars Sport drinks
Rennet Casein - Less Damaged Than Acid Casein But Still Problematic
Next is a natural casein product that is not precipitated with acid. Called "rennet casein," it's extracted via milk clotting enzymes, also called rennet enzymes.
Rennet casein is generally less damaged than acid casein. It isn't exposed to the low pH as acid casein, but it's nevertheless a protein isolate, typically derived from pasteurized milk. Here is how rennet casein is processed …
Following the pasteurization, the skim milk is cooled to a setting temperature, where calf rennet or microbial rennet enzymes are added and mixed thoroughly until the protein coagulates. This process is virtually the same as that of cheese manufacturing.
And as with cheese manufacturing, the enzymatic precipitation cleaves a most important part of the casein protein called glycomacropeptide. This peptide is a highly beneficial component of native casein - being a great source of immune supportive and satiety-enhancing nutrients.
This is how the protein cleavage technically occurs.
Casein is made out of three kinds of proteins:
α - casein
ß - casein
k - casein
K-casein works like a stabilizing agent, keeping the native casein protein matrix in a stable, water-soluble state. During the first state of renneting, the enzymes specifically cleave one of the bonds in k-casein, releasing part of the protein chain - glycomacropeptide - into the whey liquid. This action destabilizes the casein micells, which then form a clot with some of the calcium ions of the milk.
What's left is a casein curd devoid of its glycomacropeptides, which is then cooked and thermolyzed similar to acid casein. This means that on final evaluation rennet casein is a low-grade protein subjected to protein cleavage and thermolyzation.
And note that the casein's glycomacropeptides are "donated" during the processing to the whey liquid, which ironically increases the biological value and nutritional properties of the whey on the account of the original casein donor.
Next we'll take a look at casein hydrolystate. This product is highly popular these days due to its "easy to digest, fast to assimilate" properties. But is it better than other caseins?
Casein Hydrolystate - Faster to Assimilate but Nutritionally Inferior
Casein hydrolystate, also known as hydrolyzed casein, is a predigested protein treated with proteolytic enzymes. It is generally used in nutritional and pharmaceutical applications as easily digestible, fast-assimilating protein. Unlike other casein products, hydrolyzed casein has a fast assimilation rate similar to whey protein. Nonetheless, this protein has virtually the same problems as the other casein products.
Hydrolyzed Casein is an Inferior Protein Isolate, Drenched With MSG Byproduct of Hydrolyzation
Recent studies have shown that hydrolyzed casein is no match to whey protein. Researchers found that whey protein outperforms all casein products including hydrolyzed casein in the capacity to promote muscle protein accretion after meal ingestion. This means that in spite of being as fast assimilating as whey protein, hydrolyzed casein has a "weaker" anabolic effect - most likely due to an inferior protein content.
Finally, let's take a look at micellar casein. Micellar casein, also referred to as native phosphocasein, has been promoted by the sport nutrition industry as the epitome protein for building muscle and preventing muscle waste. But is it as superior as claimed?
Micellar Casein - Premium Casein with Poor Functionality and Stability
Micellar casein is processed similar to milk protein concentrate, but in this case the casein micells are separated from the whey via microfiltration. The main problem with micellar casein is in its functional properties.
Micellar casein has poor functionality due to poor solubility in water.
Let me explain.
It's important that the functionality of the protein is retained during drying, storage and reconstitution (mixing with fluid). Generally the protein powder needs to be dispersed and dissolved to be fully functional and edible as an ingredient. Micellar casein has poor reconstitution - which means poor capacity to dissolve in water at low temperatures.
The cheapest way to address this problem and increase the casein solubility is the use of high heat or high sheer. This is apparently what manufacturers use in the case of canned protein production. Additional methods include heat treating prior to membrane filtration, and the addition of salt, sodium caseinate or polydextrose - all of which increase the solubility of the powder on the account of the protein integrity.
The other problem with micellar casein is instability, as micellar casein tends to deteriorate with increased storage time.
Microstructural analysis shows that with increased storage time, the casein micells interact with each other and deteriorate. Micells' interactions lead to cross-linking of proteins, migration of fat particles to the surface, and degradation of the casein. This means that though micellar casein is acclaimed to be superior to other industrial caseins, it is yet unstable and thus inferior to native casein and cheese casein. And it may contain undesirable additive residues, such as salts, sodium caseinate, and polydextrose.
Do your own investigation before purchasing a micellar casein product. Ask the product provider for an updated certificate of analysis (CofA) and an independent lab report that proves the product's protein integrity.
Final Notes and Conclusions
Whole casein such as in raw milk, milk protein concentrate and aged cheese, is superior to all casein isolates. Whole casein has a very effective nutrient delivery and can be used to yield a steady, long-lasting anabolic effect on your muscle.
Fresh cheese casein such as in cottage cheese is also a viable whole protein, high in muscle-building BCAA and leucine - albeit with a lower pH and lower nutritional value than native casein and raw aged cheese casein. The main advantage of cottage cheese is its high ratio of protein to fat. Pound for pound, you simply get more protein from cottage cheese than from milk or aged cheese.
The worst casein is chemical acid casein. All products in this category should be avoided as they're degraded and drenched with dangerous chemical residues.
All caseinates are ultra-thermolyzed and thus present a serious health risk. Consumption of thermolyzed casein has been linked to increased incidence of colonic tumors and cancer.
How to Get the Best Out of Casein, Cheese and Whey
To get the best out of casein and whey, incorporate the following protocol: During the day, use quality whey protein for muscle nourishment and post-exercise recovery. At night, use casein such as in quality cheese to keep your muscle in a sustained anabolic mode during the sleeping hours.
The reasons: during the day and after exercise your muscle needs fast-assimilating protein and immuno factors such as in quality whey to counteract the catabolic effect of daily stressors and physical exercise on your muscle and grant protein deposit toward recovery and growth.
Slow proteins such as casein have shown to be less effective than whey protein in supporting your body's immune defenses and promoting muscle protein synthesis after exercise. Nonetheless, cheese casein has the anabolic advantage in the long term, and that's due to its ability to induce a slow steady release of amino acids to your muscle for several hours at a time. Therefore cheese casein can serve as an ideal muscle food during the sleeping hours of the night.
Your quality cheese products should come from premium, preferably raw aged cheese such as cheddar, colby, gouda, swiss and emmanthal, or fresh cheese such as organic cottage cheese from pasture-fed cows.
Avoid dietary products containing casein hydrolystates. Read the labels of sports drinks, ready-made protein drinks, protein powders and protein bars - many of these items are made with casein hydrolystate as a main ingredient and are therefore drenched with MSG.
Beware of the A1-A2 Milk Issue
It has been argued that casein from A1 milk presents a health risk - apparently due to yielding a metabolic byproduct (opioid peptide) called beta casomorphine, which has been linked to brain disorders and disease particularly among babies and infants.
Most U.S. dairy products are from A1 milk unless stated that they're produced from A2 milk such as of Guernsey or Jersey cows. European dairy products, however, (which include French, Swiss and Italian cheeses) are mostly derived from A2 milk. It has been recommended as a precautionary step to choose dairy products from A2 milk.
But let's put things in perspective. There is no conclusive evidence yet to the A1 casein issue, and if there is indeed a proven problem with A1 milk, most likely the same problem will apply to A2 milk as well.
The truth is that even A2 cows like Guernsey produce about 50% A1 milk. So if the A1 milk risk exists, it will apply to all kinds of casein products.
As a final note, be aware that historical epidemiology has been indicating great benefits of dairy products (milk, cheese and whey) on human health, particularly in the areas of weight management, cardiovascular health and muscle conditioning.
Visit www.defensenutrition.com if you would like more info.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Stressed, Irritable, Anxious? What is causing your body to feel that way?
Approximately two-thirds of all office visits are for stress-related complaints. These complaints can range from headaches to anxiety to pain. Stress itself is not an illness; it is simply a fact of life and always has been. The stressors however have changed over the years, but human physiology has remained the same. Many years ago stressors to man were life or death situation like; lack of food, danger from large animals, no shelter and so on. The body’s response has always been the “fight or flight” mode. This “fight or flight” is activated by you’re autonomic nervous system, specifically your sympathic nervous system. But what does that mean? Basically when you are stressed whether emotional stress such as work/relationships or physical stress your body has a set way of handling it. All day, everyday a series of reactions are going on inside of us to sustain “homeostasis”. This means that our body functions best when it stays within a very structured physiological range. This could be anything from your body’s temperature, to acid/alkaline ratio of the blood to regulating your blood water level by your kidneys. Keeping homeostasis is essential for life!
The fact that we know two-thirds of doctor visits are from stress-related complaints, wouldn’t it be great if we knew how to handle stress properly? Guess what? WE DO! It’s called Chiropractic. The problem is that most of us fall into the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” category.
The “wellness revolution” has slowly started to change the outlook of health today. What can we do to PREVENT problems from happening? The first place I would look at is the nervous system! The nervous system controls and influences every reaction that takes place in the human body. If we don’t properly manage stress, this will cause the nervous system to weaken and potentially make it harder for the body to maintain homeostasis.
Chiropractic care is one of the most sought out therapy for prevention and managing stress. The reason is due to the chiropractic principles of removing interference to the nervous system via chiropractic adjustments and focusing on the cause rather than symptoms. Every adjustment fires to the cerebellum, which fires to the hypothalamus, which controls the immune and autonomic function of the body. Those patients who stay well adjusted are more flexible, less stiff and rigid, and able to adapt more efficiently to the stressors of life. If you feel that Chiropractic needs to be part of your wellness plan to decrease stress please give Living with Motion Chiropractic a call – (513) 831-4433.
Visit us at www.livingwithmotion.com
The fact that we know two-thirds of doctor visits are from stress-related complaints, wouldn’t it be great if we knew how to handle stress properly? Guess what? WE DO! It’s called Chiropractic. The problem is that most of us fall into the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” category.
The “wellness revolution” has slowly started to change the outlook of health today. What can we do to PREVENT problems from happening? The first place I would look at is the nervous system! The nervous system controls and influences every reaction that takes place in the human body. If we don’t properly manage stress, this will cause the nervous system to weaken and potentially make it harder for the body to maintain homeostasis.
Chiropractic care is one of the most sought out therapy for prevention and managing stress. The reason is due to the chiropractic principles of removing interference to the nervous system via chiropractic adjustments and focusing on the cause rather than symptoms. Every adjustment fires to the cerebellum, which fires to the hypothalamus, which controls the immune and autonomic function of the body. Those patients who stay well adjusted are more flexible, less stiff and rigid, and able to adapt more efficiently to the stressors of life. If you feel that Chiropractic needs to be part of your wellness plan to decrease stress please give Living with Motion Chiropractic a call – (513) 831-4433.
Visit us at www.livingwithmotion.com
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