Whey protein helps control appetite

Whey protein contributes to regulating your body weight by improving satiation. It sends out satiety signals improving the control of immediate appetite and the regulation of long-term food intake. Researchers of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto state that whey protein has potential to help obese individuals improving appetite control and helping prevent or decrease co-morbidities such as hypertension, type II diabetes, and cholesterol or other blood fat issues.

- Whey protein reduces short-term food intake relative to placebo, carbohydrate and other proteins.
- Whey protein affects satiation and satiety by the actions of: (1) whey protein fractions per se; (2) bioactive peptides; (3) amino-acids released after digestion; (4) combined action of whey protein and/or peptides and/or amino acids with other milk constituents.
- Whey ingestion activates many components of the food intake regulatory system.
- Whey protein improves insulin function, and whey-born peptides affect the renin-angiotensin system.

It remains unclear, however, if the favorable effects of whey on food intake, appetite control and hunger in humans are obtained from usual serving sizes of dairy products. The effects described have been observed when whey is consumed in much higher amounts as a supplement. The study is published in the December 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Analysis of 10 studies; soy isoflavone strongly improves bone mineral density of the spine in older women

Scientists used a statistical method to analyze the results of ten studies that included 608 post menopausal women (a meta-analysis). Those who consumed 90mg or more of soy isoflavones daily over a six-month period strongly improved the strength of the bone in their spine vs. those on placebo. The study is published in the February 2008 issue of the journal Clinical Nutrition.