It’s always great when you find something that can serve multiple roles. A babysitter who watches over children and cleans the house. A cleaning product that disinfects and deodorizes. Or a cell phone that replaces your camera, calendar, and GPS.
When it comes to nutrition, protein gets a lot of attention, and for good reason. It plays an important role in overall health. But with that attention comes a wave of products that promise more protein, from potato chips to pancakes and even protein water.
With so many options, it’s easy to overlook simple, familiar foods that provide a natural source of protein and other important nutrients.
One of those foods is dairy products. Milk, cheese, cottage cheese and yogurt are not only good sources of protein, but protein alone is not enough. These help support overall health in ways that go beyond single nutrients.
What is “Protein Plus”?
Not all protein sources provide the same nutritional value. Some foods provide more than just protein.
Dairy products fall into a category that nutrition experts call “protein-plus.” This means it provides high-quality protein along with a variety of essential nutrients that your body needs to function at its best.
“There’s nothing wrong with convenience products, but the value of protein from real foods is often overlooked,” says Jaclyn St. John, MS, RDN, LD, Director of Nutrition Partnerships at Dairy West. “Dairy products naturally provide protein along with other important nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, and B vitamins, so you’re getting more nutritional value in each serving.”
Why is protein of high quality?
When purchasing high-quality protein foods, it helps to look beyond just the number of grams listed on the label.
Consider whether the protein is animal-based or plant-based, how easily your body can use it, and whether it contains other nutrients that support your overall health.
Proteins are made up of amino acids and help build and repair things like muscles and tissues.
Your body can produce some amino acids on its own, but nine, known as essential amino acids, must be obtained from your diet.
Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are considered complete or high-quality proteins. Dairy products are one source of complete protein.
“Foods such as dairy, eggs, meat, and soy are examples of complete proteins, which help provide the balance of essential amino acids your body needs,” US Dairy’s website states.
Two high-quality, complete proteins specifically found in dairy products are casein and whey.
Casein is found only in animal milk and is slowly digested, helping the body repair and rebuild muscle. Whey quickly digests and releases amino acids to promote muscle growth and recovery.
How to incorporate dairy products into your daily diet
One of the best things about dairy products is that they are easy to incorporate into your daily meals and snacks. Enjoy a yogurt parfait for breakfast, drink a glass of milk for lunch, or pair it with string cheese for an afternoon snack.
Requiring little preparation, dairy products are an easy way to add high-quality, nutritious foods to your daily routine.
“For many people, improving nutrition doesn’t mean following complicated rules,” St. John added. “You can start with simple choices like incorporating foods that naturally provide high-quality protein throughout the day.”
Making careful nutritional choices doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes all you need to do is choose more effective foods, such as dairy products. To learn more about how dairy products support your protein needs and overall health, visit dailywest.com/just-good-protein.
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