What Is the Nutritional Value of Protein? (Part 2)
In Part 1 we looked at the most effective protein sources for your budget. Here, we go deeper into how protein actually works in your body—why some sources move the needle for strength, recovery, and body composition while others fall short. Short version: not all protein is created equal.
What does “nutritional value” of protein really mean?
When we talk about a protein’s nutritional value, we’re asking how effectively it supports biological protein synthesis (BPS)—the process your body uses to build and repair muscle, connective tissue, enzymes, and more. Key drivers include digestibility, bioavailability, amino acid profile, and the ratio of useful tissue-building output to metabolic waste (our NNU/BPS framing).
For context and daily targets, see our guide: How many grams of protein you need per day.
How does digestibility affect results?
Proteins vary in how fully they’re broken down and absorbed. If a protein isn’t absorbed, it passes through the GI tract and contributes little to BPS. Even with digestible whole-food proteins, breakdown and absorption typically take 1–4 hours, and only a portion ultimately supports tissue-building.
Direct-absorption amino acids can shortcut digestion, delivering the needed building blocks quickly. Example: FundAminos is an essential amino blend designed for rapid uptake.
What is bioavailability and why does it matter?
Bioavailability describes how efficiently absorbed amino acids are used. When the balance skews catabolic (amino acids diverted to energy and nitrogen waste), less goes toward BPS. When it skews anabolic (amino acids available for tissue construction), you get more muscle repair, stronger connective tissues, and better recovery per gram consumed.
Where do BPS and NNU fit into this?
Our lens emphasizes maximizing BPS and favorable net nitrogen utilization (NNU). Practically, that means favoring protein sources and amino patterns your body can deploy directly to repair and rebuild with minimal waste.
So which proteins best drive BPS?
Whole-food proteins remain foundational for health, but their effective contribution to BPS varies by digestibility, amino acid pattern, and nitrogen waste. In our framework, rapidly absorbed essentials—like the pattern used in FundAminos—are engineered to prioritize anabolic use.
For a deeper dive into daily needs and comparisons, see: Protein calculator and top sources.
Amino acid profile: does the pattern matter?
Yes. The essential amino acids (EAAs) are required; the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—are especially relevant for training adaptation. A balanced EAA pattern supports protein synthesis; an imbalanced pattern can increase nitrogen waste and reduce the net effect you feel in strength, recovery, and body composition.
Applying the framework in real life
Here’s how to use this thinking day to day:
- Anchor your meals with high-quality whole-food proteins you tolerate well.
- Layer rapid-uptake EAAs when you need precision: pre-training, intra/post, travel days, appetite control, or during high stress/recovery blocks.
- If you want a broader amino spectrum (including collagenous aminos), pair FundAminos with PureClean Protein.
Summary (Part 2)
Protein quality isn’t just grams. It’s how quickly and completely it’s absorbed, how efficiently it’s used for BPS, the resulting nitrogen burden, and the amino pattern. Use whole foods as your base, then deploy direct-absorption EAAs to solve specific performance, recovery, and body-composition goals—especially around training or during higher demands.
Explore more comparisons and daily targets here. Learn more about FundAminos or work with Dr. Cohen directly.
Questions? Contact us. Until next time, keep calm and drink FundAminos.
Related reading: Best protein sources for your money