You must have heard of soy proteins, whey proteins, pea proteins, casein proteins to name a few, but do they really work? Are they really helping you lose weight, build muscle or recover faster? Are they necessary for you to use? Are they safe? Are they steroids? (No, of course they’re not steroids, but your parents or better half probably think they are)

The benefits of protein powder

It is obvious that the proteins that are contained in protein powder are needed by the body for muscle development, growth and lots more, however the amount to be taken is dependent on your gender, activity, health and age. Its also important to note that protein powders are supplements, meaning they should not be the main source of protein in your diet, they should be used to top up your protein intake.

People who exercise or engage in energy consuming activities need extra protein and that is why they use protein powder, Eating 5 chicken breasts a day isn’t practical or palatable for most, this is where protein supplements comes in.

Taking protein powder before your workout or exercise provides you with amino acids that your body needs to fuel the workout.

Taking protein powder after workout also helps repair damaged muscle and prevents you from having injuries that may inhibit muscle growth and lastly, they make your muscle bigger and stronger.

Protein Powders vs Real Food?

So you’ve started chugging back 3 shakes a day while only having 2 meals with protein from real food sources, ensuring that you reach your protein intake target for the day, congratulations, you’ve messed up. Real food is infinitely better than a protein shake.

A food that has naturally high protein content also supplies the body with other nutrients and vitamins that are needed by the body.

Aside from that, the nutrients present in protein powder might not be the same quality as the protein found in actual food.

Remember, protein powder should supplement your diet, not rule it.

Should protein diet be part of my diet, should I add it?

Our body needs protein for cell repair, building and maintaining muscle and development.

For an average adult, supplementing protein might not be necessary. However supplementing protein powder could be an option to get you the proper amount of protein you will need for extra boost.

There are a few great reasons to add protein powders in to your diet;

Convenience

It’s not always practical or possible to consume real food, you may be at work or out and about with no access to your normal meals.

Speed

Your body can digest a protein shake much quicker than solid food, this makes them a great choice for a post workout hit!

Taste

Some of them just taste too damn good not to add in to your diet! For those that may be struggling with chocolate cravings, get yourself a good quality chocolate protein shake, you get the chocolatey taste you’re craving with the added benefits

How do you choose a safe protein powder?

It is important you know that protein powders are not made equal and the supplements do not need FDA approval for marketing. This is the reason why there are different protein powders; some may have high sugar, less protein etc. It just depends on the products and what is printed on its label.

To be safe, you can look out for protein powders that are NSF certified for sport (you can buy and use them even if you are not an athlete). This is because NSF certified protein powders have been tested by the third party to be sure it’s of high quality. There are other lab tested and approved protein powders, such as those by MyProtein.