High-Biological-Quality Protein

Protein is an important component of an anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective diet. Unfortunately, the favored protein sources in the modern diet, such as ground beef, sausage, bacon, and cheese, are high in both calories and saturated fats and tend to worsen post-prandial dysmetabolism ([3] and [11]). In contrast, lean protein of high biological value will both reduce post-meal glucose excursion and improve satiety. In a study of healthy individuals, the addition of whey protein to a pure glucose drink lowered the post-prandial blood glucose area under the curve by 56%, and increased the insulin response by 60% (33) (Fig. 6). Additionally, dietary protein has a thermogenic effect whereby it increases the basal metabolic rate, which is not the case with ingested carbohydrates (25). Thus, protein of high biological quality such as egg whites, fish, game meat (and other very lean red meats), skinless poultry breast meat, and whey protein (or other nonfat dairy protein) when eaten with meals will dampen down post-prandial inflammation and can help prevent obesity (25).


http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...7ba54a86cfe39c

Figure 6. Whey Protein Reduces Post-Prandial Glucose
Increases in blood glucose after either a glucose drink or the same glucose drink mixed with whey protein. Whey protein reduced the area under the curve for blood glucose by 56% (p < 0.05). Data from Nilsson et al. (33).