The Multitude Of Health Advantages Conferred By Protein Consumption

Suresh Chitturi is the Vice Chairman and MD of Srinivasa Farms, a leading player in the Indian Poultry Industry. Under his leadership, the company has achieved sustainable growth through expansion and diversification.

Srinivas Farms is involved in various aspects of poultry production and processing, including chicken breeding, egg processing, and feed manufacturing. They’re focus on adopting the latest technologies, good rearing practices, and livestock welfare has earned the company recognition for its farmer-centric approach.

Chitturi is also the Chairman of the International Egg Commission, the first Asian to hold this position in the organisation's history spanning nearly six decades. He holds an MBA from Goizueta Business School, Emory University, USA, and a degree in Computer Science Engineering.

In an exclusive interaction with BW Businessworld, he has shared his views about – Right to Protein.

1. With the immunity system getting weaker and new viruses attacking the human body with each passing day, how much do you think protein can help people in managing this?
Protein is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system. In patients with compromised immune systems, the disease is more likely to cause serious illness and even death. To decrease metabolism caused by inflammatory mediators, it is well-established that consuming more protein is crucial.

To defend the viruses the immune system must be stronger and protein intake is very important for the same. A low-protein diet is believed to impair the body's ability to fight off infections. As is often known, infection risk rises when people consume less protein than the 0.8 g/kg/day that the RDA recommends.

Consuming enough protein is important for overall health and can certainly support immune function. The recommended daily intake of protein varies depending on age, sex, and activity level, but generally, adults should aim to consume 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day.

2. Everyday life is becoming stressful, and diet is playing a significant role in managing this. How can protein support an active lifestyle?
Anxiety and sadness were widely ignored as health issues until the pandemic hit. Due to the rise in stress and anxiety, more and more people are looking for alternative treatments and supplements.

Protein is an essential macronutrient that plays a critical role in supporting an active lifestyle and managing stress. Here are some ways that protein can benefit you:

1. Reduced Stress: Stress can cause your body to break down protein faster than it can be replaced. Consuming protein-rich foods can help to replenish protein stores in the body, reducing the effects of stress.

2. Increased Energy: Protein provides a steady source of energy to keep you going throughout the day. Unlike carbohydrates, which can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, protein helps to regulate blood sugar levels and provide a sustained release of energy.

In short, consuming adequate amounts of protein can help support an active lifestyle and manage stress by promoting muscle recovery and growth, providing energy, reducing stress, controlling appetite, stabilising blood sugar levels and improving immunity.

3. The theme for the recently celebrated Protein Day 2023 was easy to access to protein for all. What is an example of an easy form of protein for Indians that is also easily available?Our body is fed with protein from the food we eat. There are many foods containing proteins in large quantities. These include meat, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Two important things to consider while looking at the protein content of your diet:

1. Quantity: It can be measured as grams of protein per 100 grams of the food.

2. Quality: Not every protein is digested and absorbed by the human body. To determine the quality of protein, two popular scales are used - Protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) Ranges between 0 –1. Net protein utilization (NPU) Ranges between 0–100.

These are some of the protein sources that you can include in your daily diet option to have a protein-rich diet.

1. Eggs: Egg protein is considered the best protein in the world. The NPU for an egg is 100 and the PDCAAS score is 1

2. Chicken Breast: Chicken breast is a great source of lean protein as it has a very less fat content. It is also quite easily available. The PDCAAS score of chicken breast is 0.95.

3. Soy-fed poultry, meat and fish: According to the recent Indian National Family Health Survey, about 75 per cent of Indians are non-vegetarians. Additionally, poultry, meat and fish are considered to be the most easily accessible protein-rich food options. This makes it a necessity to also keep in check what our food is fed to be protein-sufficient and consuming soy-fed poultry, meat and fish is the best way to do so.

Soy feed plays a significant role in the growth and development of animals and thereby helps define the quality of protein consumed by humans. Hence, by adopting the ‘Soy Fed’ label approximately a year ago from now, we further reinforced our commitment to providing quality and affordable nutrition to consumers, which has always been at the core of our existence.

Considering the cost & availability of the above food items, Egg protein is considered the best protein hence it is often used as a reference to compare other proteins.

4. If one talks about eggs and poultry, there are a lot of apprehensions about adulteration and the use of chemicals. How can one identify the best available eggs and poultry?Consumers should be aware of these potential issues and take steps to ensure that the poultry and eggs they purchase are of high quality and safe for consumption. This includes buying from reputable sources, properly storing and cooking the products, and being mindful of any labelling claims that may be misleading.

Certainly! Here are some points on how to identify the best available eggs and poultry:

· Check the source: Buy from reputable sources such as local farmers or trusted grocery stores.
· Look for freshness: Eggs and poultry should be fresh, with no cracks or signs of damage.
· Smell and taste: Fresh eggs and poultry should have a neutral smell and taste. If they smell or taste off, they may not be fresh or may be contaminated.
· Read labels: Look for labels that list the ingredients

Overall, it is important to do your research and choose products that meet your standards for quality, safety, and sustainability.

5. How can eggs be incorporated in more than one way into everyday eating habits to make our diets more protein-rich?
Eggs are a versatile and nutritious food that can be incorporated into many meals and snacks throughout the day. Other than the regular use of fresh eggs, here are some of the ways Indians include eggs in everyday eating habits to make the diet more protein-rich:

• Powdered eggs can be used in pancakes, protein shakes, smoothies and oatmeal to make your meal protein rich

• Use liquid eggs in place of fresh eggs in your favourite egg-based recipes, such as quiches or breakfast sandwiches, egg salad and devilled eggs.

Liquid and powdered egg forms are great sources of protein that can easily be incorporated into everyday eating habits. Both liquid and powdered egg forms have a long shelf life when stored properly, making them convenient to keep on hand when you need a quick and easy protein boost.

Incorporating liquid or powdered egg forms into your everyday eating habits can be an easy way to increase your protein intake and improve your overall nutrition.