Protein

Abstract

Although it has been fairly well established that most athletes ingest sufficient protein in their habitual diet, recent scientific evidence has shown that the type (animal versus vegetable) and timing of protein intake (pre-versus post-exercise) can affect protein kinetics and adaptations to training. This chapter reviews basic protein and amino acid metabolism, discusses methods of measuring protein quality, provides prudent levels of protein intake for various athletic populations, compares different protein types, and discusses what is currently known about timing of protein intake relative to exercise. The chapter concludes by providing practical applications for sports nutritionists that maximize the benefits of protein/amino acid ingestion while balancing the potential adverse effects of excessive protein intake. © 2008 Humana Press.