Nutritional Value

Proteins are organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. It is the presence of the nitrogen that sets protein apart from other nutrients. Since we have no other source of nitrogen—unlike plants, we are unable to absorb it from the air—one of the most important roles of protein is to bring nitrogen into the body.

Proteins are made up of sub-units called amino acids. There are twenty dietary amino acids, typically subdivided into two categories: dispensable amino acids, which can be made within the body, and indispensable amino acids which must come from diet.

Amino acids supplied from dietary protein are needed for synthesis of body proteins in muscle, organs, bone and skin, and for synthesis of enzymes, certain hormones, antibodies and a host of processes.

The indispensable amino acids are lysine, methionine + cysteine, threonine, tryptophan, leucine, isoleucine, valine, phenylalanine, arginine and histidine. (Adults do not require a dietary supply of arginine.)

A diet deficient in one or more of the indispensable amino acids impairs growth in children, causes adults to lose muscle mass, and lowers the body's resistance to a variety of diseases. Extreme protein deficiency can kill. An adequate daily supply of high-quality protein is essential to optimal growth and health.

The nutritional supplements industry has seen explosive growth in the use of protein ingredients over the past ten years. Protein bars, once consumed only by endurance athletes, are now available at the corner store, and protein-rich meal-replacement products and dietary supplements have become supermarket staples. Protein supplements are also increasingly and successfully being promoted to the expanding market of geriatric consumers. Potential applications for Canola protein isolates include power shakes, protein bars, protein powders and any other concentrated protein supplement.