From FLEX Online April, 2008

Stop laughing. We’re serious. Rice protein exists, and you should consider adding it to your shakes. Wondering how one of our favorite carb sources is also mysteriously a protein source? Allow us to clarify. Most foods contain a mix of macronutrients, so even though rice is high in carbs, it does contain protein. However, when eaten as a whole food, rice doesn’t have sufficient amounts of lysine, one of the nine essential amino acids, to be considered a complete protein. But when the protein in rice is concentrated in powder form, it turns into an excellent source of protein. And because its amino profile is different from that of whey, combining them ensures that you get a good balance. Furthermore, brown rice protein has about five times the amount of arginine that whey contains, so adding half a scoop of it to your usual preworkout whey shake will help enhance blood flow to your muscles for better energy during your workout and faster recovery afterward.

BROWN RICE PROTEIN VS. WHEY PROTEIN

This table compares the amino acid profile of 20 grams (1 scoop) of brown rice protein and whey protein.

NUTRIENT       BROWN RICE PROTEIN*  WHEY PROTEIN*
Alanine        0.9                  0.9
Arginine       1.5                  0.3
Aspartic acid  1.4                  2.1
Cysteine       0.4                  0.5
Glutamic acid  2.0                  3.2
Glycine        0.7                  0.3
Histidine      0.7                  0.3
Isoleucine     0.7                  1.2
Leucine        1.4                  2.0
Lysine         0.5                  1.7
Methionine     0.4                  0.4
Phenylalanine  0.8                  0.6
Proline        0.8                  1.3
Serine         0.9                  0.9
Threonine      0.6                  1.4
Tryptophan     0.3                  1.6
Tyrosine       0.9                  0.5
Valine         0.8                  1.1

RICO’S COMMENTS: I have throughout my life continually changed and revised my health regimen as I discover new supplements, ways of training, ways of eating, etc. The more holistic and natural I get the more fit and healthy my body becomes. Approaching 56 years old my fitness is the best it has ever been. Most of this is because of my nutrition and supplementation lifestyle. I eat and supplement to live a disease-free, healthy life. The gym and cardio DO have a correct science to them (we will go into that at another time), but only take 6 hours a week! I know use brown rice protein in addition to my whey isolate protein. I try to get most of my protein from things like free range eggs, free range chicken, wild alaskan salmon, etc. but have a shake directly after my workout to get it quickly into my body without much digestion.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT, ASSIMILATE AND ABSORB.