Protein benefits and misconceptions
- Admin
- Apr 18, 2023
- 3 min read
One of the most commonly used supplements in the fitness industry is the oh-so-famous protein powder. There is a slight hype to it being only necessary for people who workout, but that's not necessary true ;) Regardless there seems to be lots of questions floating around regarding protein powder and when/why to take it. So, let's talk about it!
Why PROTEIN, as a nutrient, is critical
Just like the other macronutrients (carbs and fats), protein serves a huge role in our health and fitness journey. Protein helps our bodies repair what is broken, allows for growth, protects muscle, and allows our muscles to grow, become stronger, and more dense/powerful. Protein also allows bodies to preserve our muscle and use our fat as fuel! Which is exactly what we want when working to reach our goals. This means that when protein is in our body it actively puts us to be in a fat-burning state (anabolic state). Now, protein allows our bodies to be in this state for 3-4 hours, meaning that if we want to stay in an anabolic state all day we need to eat a handful-size protein every 3-4 hours. Take a moment and think about your day - how often do you eat protein? Check out the link below for more details regarding protein!
Common misconcpetions about protein and protein powder
Because protein is associated with fitness and "gains", it is common that protein is thought of as something that contributes to weight gain. This is not at all true! This misconception can cause people to not eat enough protein (this same concept goes for food). It turns out that people will realize they aren't eating enough of this nutrient to support their training and every-day lifestyle. If you feel as if you've been plateauing in your fitness goals, I would suggest to take note of your protein intake. Perhaps you could download a food-tracking app and track food for a few days. Pay attention to the grams of protein you're eating, they should roughly match your weight in pounds. If your numbers don't match, that is something you can change to support your hard work. Don't be afraid of protein, it is a saving grace!
Why protein powder can serve as a beneficail tool
If you were looking to up your protein intake but were struggling with finding ways to make it easy and convenient, then protein powder would be a great option for you. You can eat protein powder at any time throughout your day; if you were following the "eat protein every 3 hours" guideline then a quality protein powder could be the answer for you at any time during the day where eating a "chicken breast" would be difficult. Juice Plus is a brand I love and trust! They have general daily use protein powders and they also have a post-workout protein that helps with recovery. Click the link here to read more! Collagen Powder is a final protein powder that is flavorless and can also serve a great tool that you can mix in coffee or oatmeal. I compare these three types of proteins in this video!
What to look out for
If you have ever drank a protein drink or shake that made your stomach hurt, it wasn't protein!! Sometimes when manufactured the natural protein can be destroyed through the manufacturing process. That being said, there is no nutritional value in the product. This tends to happen with the cheaper protein powders and protein bars. These products then don't offer our bodies what we need to grow and benefit from protein. When shopping for protein powder, look for a brand that is NSF inspected and low-temperature processed to ensure that you are getting exactly what you need to benefit from the convenience of protein powder!
These protein powders from Juice Plus take like pudding! My golly they are GOOD!! Message me and I'd be happy to send you a sample :)
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