Yet while Americans are more health-conscious than ever before, national health dialogue continues to be dominated by a cynical theme: malnutrition. Many Americans are suffering ill-health effects of a diet that is too high in saturated fat[ii], carbohydrates[iii], and calories[iv], while severely lacking in protein.

This wave of malnutrition is not merely disconcerting to medical professionals. It is alarming. The situation has become so desperate that obesity will soon become nation’s leading cause of preventable death.[v]

America’s nutritional dilemma is not, however, limited to obesity concerns. Malnutrition in non-overweight individuals is nearing epidemic levels. Millions of “fit looking” individuals subsist on a diet that is far too rich in carbohydrates a problem that has been enhanced for generations by US FDA’s encouragement of refined carbohydrates as part of a balanced diet. We now know, however, that many of these refined carbohydrates are metabolically similar to candies and sweets. Added to this problem is that saturated fats continue to dominate many meals, particular those served in fast food restaurants.

Essentially then, problem in America can be summed up as this: eat right or prepare to suffer shape up, or die a preventable death.

The first step in balancing America’s eating practices is to reintroduce importance of protein. This neglect is all more stunning given that, of three major macronutrients – carbohydrates, fats, and proteins – proteins are only essential component that human beings cannot live without.

Reintroducing protein as part of a healthy diet is made more difficult because many consumers do not know where to find a healthy source of protein. Unfortunately, most nutritional supplement sources bring with them a range unwanted carbohydrates, facts, and calories. Powerbar™, “granddaddy” of nutritional supplements launched in 1987, has been rejected as an option by some consumers and health professionals because of high carbohydrate levels (45 grams), and low protein levels (10 grams) in each serving. Furthermore, dieters in particular have criticized Powerbar’s™ high 230 calories per bar –-more than 1/10th of recommended caloric intake.

However, as with most inventions, there is a potentially harmful application of these very popular “best” lists. There are situations where need to identify best of something obscures real truth that, quite simply, there is no single best ranking. In other words, best of something is in reality a combination of many things. Within world of nutrition, there arguably is not a more clear – and dangerous – expression of this truth then in looking at protein.

The world of nutrition is not short on “best” opinions for sources of protein. Some camps lobby in favor of whey protein as best, while others advocate soy. Some claim that meat and poultry are best source of protein, while others swear that a plant-based item such as spirulina ranks at top. There are so many opinions – each one claiming to support best source of protein – that consumers are often left less informed after reading a few of them, rather than more educated.

One of reasons that search for best source of protein is so widespread is because of its critical importance within a healthy diet. All bodily functions are aided, directly or indirectly, by protein. In addition to being an essential energy source, protein is a component of every body cell, and among other vital contributions, helps in creation, maintenance, and repair of muscle tissue[i].

Furthermore, it is widely accepted – regardless of view on “best” source of protein – that a complete source of protein is required by all people, regardless of athleticism or mobility. This complete source of protein must reflect all 20 different amino acids that comprise protein. Since body can only create 12 of them through its own synthetic production capacity, 8 amino acids – called “essential amino acids” -- must be obtained through diet[ii].

This is where confusion ultimately lies, and root cause of ongoing confusion. Various groups claim that certain specific food sources, such as whey, milk protein, or calcium caseinate[1], respectively, is single best source of protein. Surprisingly, however, a growing body of research is suggesting that that all of these views are incorrect. Rather, a variety of protein sources is proving to be best.