Whether you’re looking to add more protein to your diet or looking to build muscle mass, with so many different protein powders and supplements to choose from it can be a little overwhelming to know which is best for you.
Thankfully, since there is so much choice, you can be sure that you’ll find one that suits your dietary needs and requirements.
From vegan friendly to lactose-free, there’s no easier way to boost your protein intake than by implementing a daily supplement into your diet.
If your preference is vegan, you can head to the My Fitness Hub to see the full list of vegan proteins that have been simplified to help you decide what’s best for you.
As such, here’s a few tips on how to choose the best protein powder for you!
Why Do You Need Protein Powder?
Firstly, you should consider why you need protein powder first as this will likely dictate how much you’re going to need, since a bodybuilder would require a higher protein intake than simply someone with a protein-deficient diet looking to supplement.
Protein is an essential macronutrient and there are many benefits to eating more protein, so it’s vital to ensure that you’re getting enough as part of your diet, which tends to be dictated by your lifestyle and current health.
Whilst the most common sources are from meat, fish, milk, and eggs, there is a growing consciousness on overproduction of these products, and so many people have switched to plant based diet.
In doing so, however, they may not be getting enough protein as part of their diet, which is why using protein powder and supplements are such a great way to increase your daily protein intake.
Bodybuilders and elite athletes, in particular, require a high protein intake to increase muscle size and strength; adding a protein powder to their diets enables the muscles cells to repair and recover following bouts of weight training,
How Much Do You Need?
Generally speaking, the amount of protein you will need will vary from individual to individual.
However, most recommendations would suggest that the optimum amount would be between 0.8g-1g per kg of bodyweight, so if you weigh 80kg then you would need to get around 64g-80g of protein from your diet each day.
This guideline amount would need to be adjusted depending on your level of activity and whether or not you are receiving enough protein from your regular food intake.
For example, a physically active person will need to increase their overall intake of protein to almost double the recommendation depending on their workout goals and plan.
Since tissues are damaged during workouts, consuming protein stimulates a process called muscle protein synthesis where new muscle cells are created to repair ones damaged through training.
As such, drinking protein shakes after exercise helps to promote this process immediately after training.
Which One Is Right For You?
When it comes to selecting the right protein powder for you, consider any specific dietary requirements you may need first, such as vegetarian/vegan friendly, gluten free or lactose-free.
In these cases, the best choice would be pea protein since it is animal-free, and therefore vegan based protein powder and lactose-free.
Compared to other types of protein, pea protein also contains a higher quantity of Arginine which is essential for building muscle mass.
As such, making it a great choice for those with specific dietary requirements.
However, if you have no preference, then animal or milk-based protein powders such as whey protein would be a great choice since it’s fast digesting and rich in Branched Chain Amino Acids – the proteins our body cannot produce by themselves.
Summary
For whatever reason you’re looking to use protein powders as a way of adding more to your diet, you can be sure that it’s a positive choice owing to the plentiful benefits that it has to offer the body as one of the building blocks of life.
Whilst our busy day to day lifestyles can affect our diet, using protein powders are a superb way to live a healthier and more natural way of life.
So why not make the change today and see the benefits for yourself!