Rice protein: amino acid profile and other positive properties

When looking for vegan proteins, you will always come across rice proteins. No wonder, after all, these are considered one of the best alternatives to animal products. This is due, among other things, to their advantageous amino acid profile.

What the composition of the protein building blocks in rice protein looks like and what positive effects it has, you can read here.

What are amino acids and why are they important?

To make it clear how to value the properties of rice protein, let’s first briefly summarize the basics:

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of all proteins. A total of 21 different ones can be found in the human body. These can be divided into three groups: non-essential, semi-essential and essential amino acids.

The former are produced by our body on its own. This also applies to semi-essential protein building blocks. However, in case of illness, injuries or during growth, an additional supply via food is often advisable.

The last group is particularly important: essential amino acids (EAA) are indispensable for the human body. Unlike the other building blocks, however, it cannot produce them on its own. Our task is therefore to absorb them through food.

How important these special building blocks are, you will learn in the next section, because …

These amino acids are contained in rice protein

… all eight essential amino acids are found in rice protein. A clear advantage of the amino acid profile. For this reason, vegan protein is considered a valuable alternative to animal products.

Functions of the essential protein building blocks

These basic building blocks are indispensable mainly because of the functions they perform. The essential amino acids contained in rice protein are responsible for the following processes, among others:

Leucine

• Maintenance & building of muscle tissue
• New formation of proteins in muscles & liver
• Inhibition of the breakdown of muscle proteins
• Support of healing processes
• Important energy supplier

Lysine

• Muscle building
• Build-up of other amino acids
• Bone growth
• cell division
• wound healing

Methionine

• participation in metabolic processes
• reduces colonization of bacteria in the urinary bladder
• supports detoxification
• precursor of taurine, cysteine and glutathione

Phenylalanine

• Precursor of dopamine, adrenaline, noradrenaline
• Increases attention
• Counteracts depressive moods
• Relieves pain

Threonine

• regulates fat balance and liver function
• Important for the nervous system
• Component of collagen and elastane in the skin

Tryptophan

• Precursor of serotonin
• Increases mood, well-being and performance
• Supports formation of melatonin and niacin
• Reduces hunger pangs

Valine

• Regulation of blood sugar
• Supports protein formation
• Faster absorption of all amino acids in muscles and liver

Histidine

• Growth of tissue repair
• Important for protection of nerves
• Converted to histamine

Branched chain amino acids in rice protein

The essential protein building blocks valine, leucine and isoleucine also form a branched-chain amino acid complex. This is abbreviated to BCAA (Branched Chain Amino Acid). Unlike most other building blocks, this complex is not metabolized in the liver.

Especially for athletes and sportswomen BCAA is important. Together, the complex is responsible for accelerating muscle growth and preventing breakdown.

A deficiency of the amino acids can make itself felt. In this case, you feel sluggish or suffer from colds more often.

Here, too, the rice protein amino acid profile can score: It contains quite a high amount of these branched-chain protein building blocks.

The semi-essential amino acid arginine

Also part of the amino acid profile of rice protein: a larger amount of arginine. It can be used as a preventive measure or in addition to therapy for cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerosis. These are those in which there is storage of cholesterol and other fats in the blood vessels.

In general, arginine is known for its positive effect on blood vessels. This is due to the fact that it is a precursor of the messenger substance nitric oxide, which has a vasodilating effect.
In addition, the amino acid can lower blood pressure and strengthen the immune system.

The perfect amino acid profile with rice protein in combination

Because all essential amino acids are found in rice protein, it is considered a very valuable source of protein. It is therefore particularly noteworthy among the plant-based alternatives. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement: The amount of building blocks is lower than in whey protein (also: Whey protein), for example.

For a perfect amino acid profile, you can easily combine different vegan proteins! Rice, oat, pea and hemp protein complement each other very well. All three contain essential amino acids in varying amounts. Together, they can definitely keep up with animal proteins.

Pea protein, for example, has a higher value of lysine. This makes it a good complement to rice protein. This in turn can serve with a good tryptophan content.

At naVitalo you can get all the above proteins. Our assortment is mainly aimed at food manufacturers who attach great importance to high-quality food in BIO quality. All our products are plant-based, microbiologically controlled and free of genetic engineering. Do you have any questions? Contact us for a detailed consultation.