Following in gladiators’ footsteps: Quorn exec flags mycoprotein’s potential in sports nutrition

01 Nov 2019 --- Mycoprotein, the fungi-derived and protein-rich food source that is unique to Quorn products, is seeing renewed interest for its potential in the sports nutrition field. The nutrient also appeals to an increasingly mainstream crowd seeking alternatives to animal-derived products. This is according to Tim Finnigan, Chief Scientific Officer of Quorn, who spoke to NutritionInsight about how the perception of plant-based diets is changing – they no longer seem to be the sole purview of peripheral social groups.

Quorn’s target market of people interested in sports nutrition is homogenous in terms of age, gender and sporting activity. “However, the 50+ age group is an increasing area of interest for me. They are becoming more committed to the principles of healthful aging and using diet and sports to achieve this. The science says quite clearly that there’s every reason for a 70-year-old to have the flexibility and mobility of a 40-year-old, providing their diet includes a good quantity and quality of protein. They should also follow consistent exercise programs that use a combination of resistance training and cardio,” explains Finnigan.

Athletes and exercise enthusiasts alike are increasingly looking toward vegan proteins to fuel their sporting goals, Finnigan highlights. He uses the 2018 movie, The Game Changers, as an example to illustrate this. The film features a scientific approach to follow a former UFC fighter and his conversations with other elite athletes who follow plant-based diets.

Earlier this year, a University of Exeter study found that mycoprotein stimulates post-exercise muscle building to a greater extent than milk protein. A researcher noted that there are advantages around the specific amino acid content of mycoprotein when compared to plant-based sources as it possesses a high essential amino acid content. Finnigan pegs the study as “exactly the sort of evidence-based opinion that is needed to remove consumer uncertainty.”

According to Finnigan, mycoprotein aligns with the trend towards sustainable nutrition.“The notion that gladiators as elite fighting machines in Roman times chose a largely plant-based diet because it improved their performance is a fascinating insight and one that we hear echoed by contemporary sportspeople when they make the transition to vegan protein,” he highlights.

A future-facing idea?
According to Finnigan, mycoprotein aligns with the trend towards sustainable nutrition. “We can no longer separate our dietary choices from their impacts on both the health of our bodies and the environment. It’s such a powerful future-facing idea, and within this, it’s true to say that our global meat addiction is literally costing the earth.”

He continues that to assure a sustainable food future, healthy new proteins with a low environmental impact are needed. The company is also calling for a new metric to modernize the way protein is discussed – a way that includes not just how much there is, but also how it supports our bodies and its sustainability. “We launched this at EAT Stockholm this year and it is also a call that is being promoted in the US by the True Health Initiative.”

The company also believes that the scale of environmental and health concerns associated with food can only be addressed through pre-competitive collaboration. “That’s why we are active in supporting research on a ‘no-strings-attached’ basis that seeks to advance our understanding of the role that new proteins can play in finding future-facing solutions. Of particular interest to me is that mycoprotein is both a rich source of high-quality protein and of fiber. The importance of dietary fiber in the diet is gaining understanding and momentum. It literally can save lives.”

This has been seen in a recent analysis that found that higher intake levels of dietary fiber and whole grains are being linked with a lower risk of non-communicable diseases, body weight and cholesterol levels. Another study discovered that fiber-rich diets might prove important during pregnancy in boosting the wellbeing of both mother and child, as well as protecting against the serious pregnancy-related condition preeclampsia.

Finnigan notes that the biggest consumer change that is impacting Quorn is the shift to embrace a reduction in animal protein. “Within this is the need to embrace healthy new proteins. There is real global momentum behind this, but it’s also important to acknowledge that it’s not an ‘all or nothing’ solution. Instead, a more flexible approach is realistic if we are to shift the balance within our dependence on animal proteins.”

He concludes that as a member of the fungi family, mycoprotein is, in effect, creating a third category between plant and animal. “What we have done with mycoprotein is no different from what our ancestors did thousands of years ago when they first domesticated wild plants. This is such an important message, and we are working hard to show how nature can be a powerful ally in solving the problems of food sustainability – only if we are open to it.”

By Katherine Durrell

To contact our editorial team please email us at editorial@cnsmedia.com