Can I use baby food instead of protein?

Why do you need additional protein intake when playing sports? What are the best sources to get it from? Is it possible to use baby food for this purpose? It is no secret to many bodybuilders that sports nutrition can significantly bring the moment of achieving a dream closer - increase muscle volume, endurance and energy levels. The protein mixture contains a simple protein that contains a complete set of essential amino acids. They fill muscle fibers and promote their growth after training. So, day after day, month after month, the athlete’s muscles increase, and a beautiful relief is formed. Isn't this what many strive for?

But there are people who, for various reasons, do not consume protein. For example, some do not trust such supplements, others do not have enough money for them, and others are not yet ready to take such serious sports nutrition. In such a situation, a person tries to find an alternative for protein. But does such a thing exist? For example, is baby food suitable as a substitute? Let's look at this issue.

Main types of protein

To draw any conclusions, let's remember the main types of protein. It comes in casein, whey, milk, collagen, soy and egg. This is not a complete list - in fact, there are more proteins, and each is capable of performing its own function. For example, casein dissolves in the stomach for a long time and can supply muscles with amino acids for several hours. Soy protein helps get rid of cholesterol and gain muscle mass. Whey protein is highly digestible and has one of the richest amino acid compositions, including BCAAs.

Of all the types listed above, whey protein is the most popular. But it also comes in three main types:

hydrolyzate is obtained by hydrolysis - the breakdown of proteins into simple peptides. As a result, the hydrolyzate is quickly absorbed by the body and gives the expected effect;
The concentrate contains not only protein, but also a certain percentage of lactose, fats and other components. Amino acids reach the muscles within a few hours after administration;
isolate is the purest protein. This is the best option for athletes when gaining muscle mass. It contains about 95% pure protein, which is what attracts most athletes.

Thus, in most types of protein, the main part is protein, which is quickly absorbed by the body, converted into amino acids and supplied to muscle fibers. That is, such food contains practically no carbohydrates and fats. Go ahead.

How to use

Today the question of how to take baby food seems obvious. At the dawn of bodybuilding in our country, “Kid” and “Malyutka” were eaten with spoons and washed down. Now they practice a more civilized method - they dilute the dry milk mixture with warm water or milk and then consume it. Exact instructions for preparing powdered infant formula can usually be found on the back of the pack.

However, I can share an interesting recipe on how to deliciously prepare such a product: pour dry baby food (about 5 tablespoons) and a banana with warm milk and mix in a blender. It turns out to be a tasty and nutritious cocktail, although quite sweet.

If you want to try baby food as a supplement of amino acids and vitamins, the main thing is not to overdo it and do not make it the main source of useful elements.

In any case, only you can decide whether to consume baby food or not. But if you are not achieving the desired results with your usual diet for sports, switching to the “Malysh” mixture is unlikely to help you. Better pay attention to the quality of your training.

Delicious life and success! And don't forget to share the article!

Main purpose and dosage

Why take protein at all? The main task is to give muscle fibers the necessary amount of amino acids. But you can eat a lot of meat, eggs and other high protein foods? Theoretically, yes. Only the intestines need time to process the incoming food and “transport” nutrients to the muscles, and this takes up to 2-3 hours. Moreover, in addition to pure protein, regular food contains carbohydrates, fats and other components that an athlete does not always need.

During periods of active exercise, a bodybuilder should take at least two grams of protein per kilogram of weight. It is quite difficult to “feed” an athlete weighing 100 kilograms, who needs about 200 grams of pure protein per day. This is where sports nutrition comes in handy.

The material side of choice: which will cost more

In order to understand which option is more affordable, you need to find out about the body's need for incoming proteins during one day, necessary for muscle growth. So: let's take the weight as a basis - 78 kg, as the average dose required for consumption per day - 3 grams per 1 kg of weight, then the daily norm will be - 234 grams. squirrel.

Using the table, we will make a comparative price characteristic:

Comparison price table

Based on the data given in the table below, it is clear that the required amount of the sought-after protein substance included in the products in question will be:

Protein – 269.1 rub.
SCM – 131.63 rub.
SOM – 99.45 rub.
Dry mixture “Baby” – 2106.00 rub.

From the calculations presented above, it becomes clear that, given the difference in the quantitative protein content in the compared products, the difference in material costs for an equal amount of the required constituent substance is very significant.

Alternative to sports supplements

Today, many beginners prefer baby food. They believe that by taking such a simple and safe supplement instead of protein, they will get the same effect. This is not true, because baby food contains much less protein. For example, if 100 grams of isolate contains about 90-95 grams of protein, then 100 grams of supplement for a baby contains only 15-20 grams. It is easy to calculate how many packs you need to drink to cover your daily requirement of amino acids.

But that's not all. Baby food contains not only protein, but also a large amount of carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and other components. Therefore, it is better to compare it with a non-gainer, the composition of which is varied and has a greater emphasis on carbohydrates.

The worst thing is that baby food has another disadvantage - its high price. But if one pack can be enough for a child for a week, then for an athlete this is a supplement for one day. As a result, you can literally go broke on such purchases. It is much more profitable to buy protein, which has everything you need and in its “pure” form. So baby food is clearly not cost-effective - protein is better.

Baby food in bodybuilding

For lack of options, bodybuilders throughout the Union did their best in terms of protein products and sports supplements.

The presence of baby food in the kitchen of every jock became a mandatory attribute of training. A sort of Soviet analogue of foreign protein.

“Baby”, “Malyutka”, “Kolobok” - these are the names of the most common mixtures of those times. They are familiar to everyone who worked out in a basement rocking chair at that time.

The composition of these products served as an accessible additional source of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

Since the mid-90s, Western manufacturers of sports supplements began to penetrate the post-Soviet space, and by the early 2000s, the sports nutrition market was developing by leaps and bounds and today it is more diverse than ever.

It would seem that you can forget about baby food in bodybuilding as a relic of the past, but no! Questions about whether baby food can be used instead of protein regularly pop up on the Internet.

Let's figure out why they still remember and talk about him.

Mix price

The pricing policy for baby food may seem quite loyal, but you shouldn’t believe in it without first calculating the costs. Feeding formula to an adult will cost much more than feeding a baby. After all, the main goal of a bodybuilder is to consume a high concentration of protein. To saturate them with the help of infant formula, they will have to consume about half the package per meal. Protein, produced in powder form, is diluted with water and taken as a cocktail 2-3 times a day. Comparing the amount consumed, you can see that the mixtures end up costing several times more money.

What advantages does it have?

To improve the taste of finished products, manufacturers add this ingredient to them. It is also found in children's cereals, which can be bought in any supermarket. The dietary supplement has some benefits:

acts as a thickener;
makes baby food nourishing and rich;
helps instant protein dissolution and its complete absorption by the body;
the substance dissolves easily without forming lumps;
the ingredient is moderately sweet compared to other sweeteners - honey, maltose, sugar, etc.;
helps to increase the shelf life of baby food;
is a source of additional energy;
mixes well with other components of the product;
easy to produce and inexpensive.

Although maltodextrin is absorbed by the baby’s body better than starch, you should not abuse it. If it enters the body in excess, the intestinal microflora may deteriorate and the child becomes more vulnerable to various types of infections.

All the best for children - the influence of nutrition on physical condition

An athlete, like a child, needs a balanced diet. His well-being, physical activity, and future achievements depend on this. Adhering to a healthy lifestyle and nutritious nutrition means contributing to future victories.

Any athlete knows that to properly maintain physical fitness, it is necessary to find a balance in 3 areas:

training;
recovery period;
nutrition.

Under the supervision of experienced trainers, the intensity of the load and the fullness of rest are strictly observed. Difficulties often arise precisely in the correct selection of diet and nutrition.

There is no need to rely on generally accepted rules in this matter, because there have been many years of battles about this issue. Often opinions differ, causing athletes to doubt and search for a true solution.

Recently, baby food has become especially popular among athletes. The composition of this product is in no way inferior to sports protein complexes. At the same time, gaining weight with baby food is no worse than specialized food.

Maltodextrin for weight loss

The supplement is absorbed by the body without any problems, having the ability to enhance metabolism. For this reason, maltodextrin is sometimes included in the diet as a sweetener without harm to the body.

Important! Its use will only be beneficial in combination with exercise in the gym or any other physical activity.

Application of maltodextrin in cosmetology and pharmaceuticals

In cosmetology, it is added to various creams and serums to maintain their consistency, as well as to increase the period of use. Used in the manufacture of powder and blush to give the desired structure. Maltodextrin has also found its application in anti-aging creams - it promotes increased saturation of the skin with vitamins and minerals, smoothes out facial wrinkles. To obtain the desired consistency, it is used to make toothpastes.

In the pharmaceutical environment, it is used as an excipient that helps create a stable composition of certain forms of drugs. It also accelerates the solubility and absorption of active metabolites of drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.

What is maltodextrin and what are its benefits?

The substance is obtained enzymatically from potato, rice or corn starch. It can be classified as concentrated carbohydrates. Maltodextrin is a white powder with a slightly sweet taste. In the food industry it performs a number of functions. It allows baked goods to stay fresh longer and not lose their attractive appearance.

Manufacturers benefit from using this powder. But the question of its benefits and harm remains open.

Properties and chemical composition

The popularity of this supplement is explained by its wide spectrum of action. In food products it performs various functions:

Helps increase flavor intensity.
Replaces fats.
Thickens or changes the viscosity of products.
Slows down the process of sugar crystallization.
In sports products and baby food, the presence of maltodextrin helps to normalize the degree of digestibility of the beneficial components of the product.
Extends the shelf life of perishable products.

The properties of the substance directly depend on the dextrose equivalent:

4-6% – anti-crystallization abilities, high degree of binding capacity, increases the freezing point of the product;
9-12% – the substance contains saccharide macromolecules, no sweet taste, increases viscosity;
13-17% – maltodextrin is characterized by low sweetness and is highly soluble in water;
18-20% – the powder begins to absorb moisture and acquires a more pronounced sweet taste.

The chemical composition of the dietary supplement is very similar to that of corn syrup or molasses. The multicomponent mixture includes: polysaccharides, glucose, maltotriose, maltose. When the powder is completely broken down, pure glucose can be obtained.

Application in the food industry

The additive is often used in the production of instant products (powder mixtures, cereals, soups, sauces) as a flavoring agent, and can also act as a preservative or thickener. Since crystallization does not occur, the product components can bond better with each other. Manufacturers of dairy products use the powder as a stabilizer in the production of sour cream, cheese, and cream.

Maltodextrin is based on rice, corn or potatoes. It has no color, taste or smell, and quickly dissolves in water. The substance influences the process of product formation and controls its structure. The composition contains components that are quickly absorbed into the human body, so it is often used in sports nutrition.

It is also used to preserve the freshness of fruits. It is sprayed onto fruits or a small layer is applied to the surface. In addition to the fact that maltodextrin extends the shelf life of the product, it also protects fruits from insects.

We recommend reading: The influence of tannins on the body, benefits and harm, where they are contained

Glycemic index

The supplement has a fairly high glycemic index, which depends on the manufacturing method. Its levels can range from 105 to 135. In this regard, experts do not recommend eating it for people with high blood sugar levels.

The raw material from which the powder is made also matters.

It is very important to pay attention to the composition of products for children. Some manufacturers produce products with maltodextrin from wheat. In such cases, it contains gluten, which can negatively affect the baby’s condition.

The relevant information must be indicated on the packaging. Maltodextrin is popular among athletes, as it acts as an additional source of energy and quickly saturates the body.

In such cases, it contains gluten, which can negatively affect the baby’s condition. The relevant information must be indicated on the packaging. Maltodextrin is popular among athletes, as it acts as an additional source of energy and quickly saturates the body.

General beneficial properties

The starch substance is characterized by a list of positive qualities. Penetrating into the body:

saturates with glucose;
quickly and easily digested, unlike regular starch;
Helps reduce bad cholesterol levels.

Another advantage of this supplement is the fact that it is produced on the basis of natural raw materials. Powder is a carbohydrate. It is one of the main sources of energy. With regular use, it helps improve intellectual and physical abilities. Has a positive effect on intestinal microflora. When used correctly, it accelerates the process of removing radionuclides and heavy metal salts from the body.

Natural protein analogues

It is hardly possible to completely replace natural protein with baby food, because formulas can only supplement your diet. That is why it is important to correctly compose your daily menu, supplementing it with protein products.

Take a look at the protein-packed foods below:

If you consume the required amount of natural protein per day, you will not need to purchase additional mixtures or powders. However, this is not easy to achieve and often requires the help of nutritionists.

Why is maltodextrin dangerous?

According to most international studies, maltodextrin is safe for healthy people. But provided that they have a normal process of breaking down glucose in the body. That is, there is no diabetes and obesity.

But like any other product obtained through multicomponent production, this substance has a number of disadvantages.

Manufacturers benefit from the use of the substance, and consumers should treat it more carefully, like any other food additive.

Increased blood sugar

Compared to regular sugar, maltodextrin has a high glycemic index. Therefore, it can cause a spike in insulin in the blood. Food products containing this substance are strictly not recommended for people suffering from diabetes. Maltodextrin does not cause any harm to a healthy person and is even beneficial, since it promotes the natural production of insulin.

The glycemic index of this substance is almost twice as high as that of regular sugar.

Glucose from this supplement is easily absorbed and enters the blood very quickly. If a person leads a sedentary lifestyle, the substances accumulate in the form of fat. What leads to obesity. This is different from the effect of complex carbohydrates from whole grains. They are absorbed slowly and the feeling of fullness is maintained for a long period of time.

Inhibition of probiotic growth

Certain foods promote the growth of beneficial bacteria. And some products, on the contrary, hold back.

After research, it was found that in people with gastrointestinal diseases, a diet rich in maltodextrin changes the composition of bacteria in the intestines. Suppresses the growth of beneficial probiotics. Because of this, the body becomes more susceptible to infections and various diseases. In some cases, the substance promotes the development of harmful bacteria. These include E. coli, which can begin to progress and damage the intestinal environment.

A 2012 study found that maltodextrin increased the persistence of E. coli bacteria in the intestinal epithelium. Thereby increasing autoimmune disorders.

Research by American scientists indicates that this polysaccharide weakens cellular antibacterial reactions. It reduces the intestinal antimicrobial defense mechanisms, which leads to inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The supplement does not cause serious negative consequences, but some people experience side reactions.

These include:

flatulence;
asthma;
rashes and hives;
diarrhea;
vomit;
stomach upset.

According to researchers, due to the increase in consumption of polysaccharides, cases of Crohn's disease increased at the end of the 20th century.

Allergies

Maltodextrin, derived from wheat, does not contain wheat gluten. And the corn-derived product is not dangerous for people with corn allergies. Indeed, during grain processing, proteins are completely separated from starch. And for the production of this substance, starch is used, which no longer contains protein impurities. Therefore, it cannot cause an allergic reaction on its own.

Lack of nutritional value

A teaspoon of maltodextrin contains about 20 calories and 4 grams of carbohydrates. However, it does not contain any nutrients. This means it has no health benefits. Therefore, when purchasing products, it is better to choose those that contain other substances that have a range of beneficial properties as sweeteners.