Why use protein powder as opposed to getting your protein from real food? The answer is that protein in powdered form has a higher nutrient concentration than found naturally in food. As the name suggests, protein powder is the pulverized form of protein, and it comes from milk, eggs, or plants.
Why Use Protein Powder?
To produce lean muscles, you need protein. However, after about age 30, between 3 and 5% of your muscles begin to deteriorate every ten years. At this level of deterioration, your body needs an extra intake of good-quality protein and amino acids.
For people with little to no muscle mass, protein supplements help maintain the natural aging process. Muscles do not only come from working out. They develop from the food you eat. As muscle tissues are essential for keeping your body upright, blood circulation, and boosting metabolic rates, you should concentrate on keeping them healthy.
Protein powder is also vital for building up your bone density. The older you get, the more your bones deteriorate. Protein powder helps to recreate your bone tissue.
In addition, protein powder is filling. The substance has a positive effect on your hunger hormones- it lowers the level. On the flip side, it increases the hormones that make you feel full.
How protein powder reacts to your body makes it a prime substance to help you maintain your weight. It could be that you just lost weight, or you just gained weight. Whichever it is, you can consume protein powder to keep your weight stable.
What Are the Types and Uses of Protein Powder?
You know that protein powder comes from the products: milk, eggs, and plants. Therefore, the type of protein powder is mainly dependent on its derivative. With all the options available, ensure you read your labels carefully to choose your best fit.
Proteins come in three forms:
- Concentrates- these powders come from food that went through high heat processing and has fats and carbohydrates in the finished product.
- Isolates- Isolates go through the same process as concentrates, but the fats and carbohydrates get removed.
- Hydrolysates- To be absorbed quickly, these proteins break down into amino acids (the final stage before the body uses it for energy).
Types of Protein powders
1. Whey- Whey protein comes from milk. It gets absorbed quickly into your body and promotes muscle growth.
2. Casein- This is another milk derivative. Casein helps to maintain your muscles so they do not break down.
3. Egg Protein- As the name suggests, this protein comes from whole eggs or egg whites. If you have medical allergies to dairy products, egg protein is an alternative to whey and casein.
4. Pea protein- A protein powder from yellow split peas, pea protein has all the necessary amino acids, except for a single exclusion.
What Are the Benefits of Protein Powder?
Protein powder adds nutrition to your diet. Teens and young adults consume more protein. As a result, adding protein powder to the diet can help to give extra amounts where necessary.
Protein powder helps your muscles to recover after a bout of exercise. The nutrient helps with repairing any damaged muscle tissues. For this reason, you will see athletes taking protein powder as a supplement and the same for anyone who works out frequently.
The body quickly absorbs whey protein powder. In addition, Legion Athletics declares that the Whey+ protein powder has “meager amounts of carbohydrates and fats,” making it even more digestible. For this reason, the powder helps to grow strong muscles.
Another mentionable benefit of protein powder is that it helps you to manage your weight. Studies show that when you supplement your diet with protein powder, you can reduce your body weight. In addition, protein powder can lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
Some FAQs on How to Choose a Protein Powder:
1. Can you use too much protein powder?
Usually, one to two scoops of protein powder is enough for most people, about 20-40 grams per day.
2. How can you tell which protein powder is best for you?
The amount of protein powder you choose becomes a personal choice. For example, as a vegetarian, you may want to opt for plant-based proteins. But, on the other hand, you can go for the whey protein powders as they absorb readily, giving immediate results. So, know what your preference is, and choose based on that.
3. Are there additional ingredients in protein powder?
Yes. Some powders may contain thickening agents, flavoring, and even sweeteners.
Consider boosting your protein intake now using the protein powder nutrient. However, do some research before choosing the one you want.