Protein Supplements
Excess amounts of dietary protein can be harmful. However, many companies that sell protein supplements imply that their products help build strength, muscle mass, endurance, and so on. Visit this site that advertises protein and amino acid supplements and critically evaluate their claims. Can you find specific statements that you know to be false based on your knowledge of protein in the diet? As you search this site, keep in mind the company's motives and the basis of their claims. Would you ever consider taking protein supplements? What would you tell people who are convinced that they need protein supplements?
Visit the At Large Nutrition web site
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Different Proteins, Different Benefits
Proteins are not all created equally, as the sequence, structure, and functions imply. How do animal proteins differ from vegetable proteins? Is soy a complete protein? Do you need to eat meat regularly? What are the sources of protein in your diet? Are you obtaining a complete array of the necessary proteins in your diet? How does the PDCAAS vary for different protein sources?
Visit the Soy and Health web site
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Around the World with Proteins
The composition of a diet is influenced largely by the availability of foods. The range of foods that are available varies based on geography and socioeconomic status, among other factors. When some types of foods are limited, the threat of kwashiorkor, marasmus, and PEM makes protein requirements of prime concern.
Find three diets from various countries described on the Web and list their sources of protein to show how these foods all meet the same protein requirements—or do they? Describe some of the factors that determine why people in these countries eat these foods, and what you as a nutritionist would like to change about their eating habits.
The United Nations University has collected many studies at its site:
Visit the United Nations University web site
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Soy Products
What do you think of soy proteins? There are several choices available to a consumer these days. Go to the above website and review product information. Select six products and compare their nutritive values and amino acid composition to the complete proteins with known nutritional information.
Visit the Genisoy web site
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Chemical Structures
Download a RASMOL viewer so you can look at chemical structures on your Web browser.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/CN3D/cn3d.shtml
Visit the NCBI web site
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Cells and Protein Synthesis
Go to this website to review the working cell and the steps involved in protein synthesis.
Visit the Genetics Primer web site
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