Part 1: How Much Protein Are You Actually Digesting?

You may be on a high-protein diet or taking a protein powder for health, energy, or fitness, but how well is your body digesting it?

Even though we’re eating protein, we’re really not digesting protein most of the time. As a result, many people are protein-malnourished, and they don’t even realize it. There are subtle signs of protein malnourishment that include anxiety.

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What does protein malnourishment look like?

You’ll know if you’re protein-malnourished, even a little bit. Your cortisol will go up, and that will make you feel more stressed. This is exactly why I’m a big supporter and user of fermented protein powders: They’re excellent at helping you get extra protein into your body, other than eating a protein meal. I consider them as essential proteins, though you may still be eating animal protein for meals.

What most people don’t know is how many misconceptions there are about protein.

If you want to choose the right protein shake and meal supplement for you, there are five powerful truths you need to know first:

Why choose fermented protein? 5 important facts

1. Fermented protein is digested best.

Most of us are eating animal protein, but we aren’t assimilating much of it. Other protein shakes may promise you 15-21 grams per serving, but unless it’s fermented, most likely you’ll only obtain a small percentage of that.

2. The kind of protein that you consume really matters.

Some people do well on milk kefir as a source of protein. But if you find that you don’t tolerate dairy or have leaky gut, an Immune Power Protein Shake can be a welcome alternative. Across the board, most people I see thrive when they’re eating non-dairy, vegan protein.

3. You don’t have to eat too much protein.

Keeping the Body Ecology 80/20 Rule in mind, only high-quality protein is best. Don’t overdo it. After you eat protein, you want to move your body and get outside — you’ll feel so much better when you do. And if after eating protein you feel sleepy, you can take it to the bank that you have leaky gut.

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4. Ammonia builds up when you don’t digest protein.

Undigested protein turns into ammonia, a very dangerous endogenous toxin.¹ Most ammonia in the body forms when protein is broken down by bacteria in the intestines. But if you don’t chew properly, eat under stress, have low stomach acid, don’t have enough pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine, are blood type A — these are all reasons why you might not be receiving the full benefits of the protein you’re eating.

The liver normally converts ammonia into urea. When excessive amounts of ammonia enter the central nervous system, ammonia short circuits the transporter potassium into the brain’s glial cells. The potassium then accumulates around nerve cells, and the brain’s defenses against ammonia are overpowered. Then, the liver gets overburdened dealing with environmental toxins, sugar, stress, chemicals, alcohol, and bad fats. When the liver is overburdened from these toxins, ammonia levels are not converted to urea, and the liver becomes congested.

Consuming an Immune Power Protein Shake that your body can easily digest can help to halt this harmful cycle and reduce ammonia buildup.

5. Even vegan protein maintains muscle tone.

Sometimes, I get so busy, and I forget to have my Immune Power Protein Shake. Within just four days, I realize I’ve begun to lose my muscle definition. Now I make it a point, even though I’m eating three meals a day, to have my shake no matter what. As we age, everyone begins to lose muscle mass. Considering that I’m in my 70s, I’m very aware of the dangers of sarcopenia. I have no intention of going there, no matter how old I get.

Since animal proteins and unfermented vegan shakes are both difficult to digest, you are lucky if you obtain 20 percent of it or a partial amount of the protein that’s on the label. An Immune Power Protein Shake made with pea protein offers much more bioavailable protein, and it shows in the muscle you gain.²

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One big bonus: Blood sugar and weight loss

An Immune Power Protein Shake that contains easily digested protein is the first step, but let’s consider the extras. Medicinal mushrooms, plus fermented protein, can provide powerful immune-boosting and blood-sugar-controlling benefits.³ Reishi, King Trumpet, Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, Agaricus, Turkey Tails, Shiitake, and Maitake: Each mushroom can stand on its own as a superfood. Together, these organic mushrooms reinforce the gut barrier, while feeding the inner ecosystem.

Medicinal mushrooms are also great at balancing blood sugar, helping you to lose weight and feel your best.

Easily digestible. Vegan and non-dairy. High-quality, muscle-making protein with anti-ammonia properties. Medicinal mushrooms that aid in weight loss. You can find all of these benefits and more in our Body Ecology Immune Power Protein Shake! To find out how protein affects blood sugar and weight loss, read Part 2 in our protein series next. And Part 3 discusses protein and muscle growth.