What is the richest source of protein?

SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

Explanation

Soyabean contains approximately 43.2 grams of protein per 100 grams, making it the most protein-dense food among the options.
It belongs to the pulse (legume) family, which is known for its high protein content, typically ranging from 20-25%.
Soy protein is considered a high-quality, 'complete' protein because it provides all nine essential amino acids required by the human body, which is rare for a single plant source.

Option A: Onion is a root vegetable primarily used for flavoring. It is very low in protein, containing only about 1-2 grams per 100g.
Option B: Wheat is a cereal grain and a staple food. While it provides a moderate amount of protein (around 12g per 100g), this is significantly less than the amount found in soyabean. Its primary nutritional contribution is carbohydrates.
Option C: Cauliflower is a cruciferous vegetable that is a good source of vitamins (like Vitamin C and K) and fiber, but it is very low in protein, containing only about 2-3 grams per 100g.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Nutritional content of common foods, specifically identifying high-protein sources as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses frequently provide dietary counseling. Knowing rich protein sources like soyabean is essential for advising patients who require high-protein diets, such as those recovering from surgery, with severe wounds, or suffering from malnutrition.
For patients following vegetarian or vegan diets, recommending soyabean and its products (tofu, tempeh, edamame) is a key nursing intervention to ensure they receive adequate amounts of high-quality, complete protein.
What if? If a patient had a soy allergy and needed a high-protein plant-based diet, a nurse would recommend other options like lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, or a combination of rice and beans to ensure a complete amino acid profile.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'richest source' and 'protein'. This indicates you need to find the option with the highest protein content.
Next, categorize each food option: Onion (vegetable), Wheat (cereal), Cauliflower (vegetable), and Soyabean (pulse/legume).
Recall the general nutritional hierarchy for protein: pulses/legumes are typically highest, followed by cereals, with most vegetables being relatively low.
Based on this hierarchy, Soyabean is the most likely candidate.
Compare the approximate protein values if you know them (Soyabean ~40g, Wheat ~12g, Vegetables ~1-3g per 100g) to confirm your selection.
Select Soyabean as it has the highest concentration of protein.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nutritional content of common foods, specifically identifying high-protein sources.
Stem keywords: richest source, protein
Lead-in keywords: What is

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) pp. 163-165, 162-164, 144-146