As a consultant for nutritional therapy, I frequently field inquiries about protein powder. Individuals frequently ask whether form of protein is best for them and whether protein powder is solely for athletes or if it may serve as a sufficient meal replacement. When you visit the protein powder section of local health food store or quickly browse the selection on Amazon, you can see why there are so many alternatives, and the confusion is quite reasonable.
The market is currently filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of protein powder options, ranging from peanut butter to eggs. In addition, powdered fruit and vegetables are added, along with various tastes, sweeteners, stabilizers, and nutrients. What kind of protein powder is best for you, then? I’ll break things down here so you can find the quickest, easiest solution possible.
Your body is made up primarily of proteins. In actuality, the body assembles and employs around 40,000 distinct proteins to create organs, muscles, hair, nails, and other tissues. A mixture of amino acids is the building block of all proteins. There are 11 non-essential amino acids, which your body can generate, and 9 essential amino acids, which your body cannot make on its own. These amino acids serve a variety of purposes in the body, including hormone and neurotransmitter support, muscle development, and gene regulation. In a nutshell, protein is crucial to our bodies’ daily operations!
How much protein should you consume daily?
You are likely already aware that a properly balanced diet entails consuming a variety of healthful carbs, but precisely how much do you require? Around 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight should be consumed daily, however this depends on your degree of exercise. Those who engage in weightlifting or lead more active lifestyles will require extra protein. Check out this free calculator to see how much protein you should eat each day and whether or not you are currently getting enough.
Can eating protein help you recover from exercise?
Because activity can lead to the breakdown of muscle protein, high protein diets and nutritional supplements are frequently associated with athletes. Depending on how strenuous your workout is, this breakdown can vary, but eating protein after a workout provides your body with the amino acids it needs to rebuild this muscle tissue. If you’re looking to gain more muscle, these amino acids can also form as the building blocks for new muscle.
