Are protein shakes good for you?
Benefits of Protein Shakes
Benefits of Daily Protein Shakes
Improved muscle mass – Incorporating daily protein shakes with high-quality protein sources like whey into your diet, along with regular, intense exercise, can help support muscle growth and repair leading to an increase in muscle mass and strength over time.
- Gas, bloating, diarrhea, stomach cramps. ...
- Hives rash, swelling, and a runny/stuffy nose. ...
- Missing nutrients. ...
- Protein powders can be high in added sugar and calories. ...
- As a dietary supplement, protein powder manufacturers are left to regulate their products themselves.
Drinking an occasional protein shake without working out will have little to no positive or negative effect on the body, but if it's habitual, the excess calories can add up. A caloric surplus of 3,500 calories results in gaining one pound of body fat.
Product | Forbes Health Ratings | Best For |
---|---|---|
Lean Body by Labrada | 5.0 | Best Overall |
Fairlife Core Power | 4.5 | Best Budget-Friendly |
OWYN Plant-Based Protein Shake | 4.0 | Best Plant-Based |
Premier Protein | 3.0 | Best Flavor Variety |
Protein and Weight Loss
In practice, protein is one of the most effective nutrients for those who want to shed some belly fat, and protein shakes for sports nutrition, or for any use, can be an efficient way of getting plenty of this key macronutrient.
Generally speaking, consuming enough protein is more important than the exact timing of when you have it – unless you're doing resistance training, where it is recommended to have it directly before or after exercise. Taking protein before bed is also a valid option for muscle growth and exercise adaptation.
Since protein has calories, consuming too much can make it harder to lose weight. This can happen if you drink protein shakes along with your usual diet and you're not eating less calories or exercising. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that an average adult needs about 46 to 56 grams of protein a day.
Protein shakes are an excellent option for those who want to cut back on their food intake and stay full in between meals. According to studies, drinking a protein shake for breakfast is more effective at reducing ghrelin levels than eating a high-carb breakfast. Ghrelin is a hormone that makes you feel hungry.
Should you drink a protein shake before or after a workout? While there's a lot of debates on the best time to drink your protein shake, Patton recommends that you drink it after your workout. “You're going to get the most bang for your buck,” she says. “Your body is going to utilize more of that protein.
What happens if you eat a high protein diet without exercise?
If you eat high protein foods but don't exercise much, your body may store the extra protein as fat, instead of using it for muscle growth and repair. Consuming more protein than your body needs can lead to weight gain, especially if you're not burning enough calories through exercise.
Packed with protein, and often with decadent ingredients like peanut butter and chocolate, protein shakes can be surprisingly high in calories. If you're not exercising, and those protein shakes are adding a lot of extra calories to your diet, that could lead to weight gain.
If you eat a lot of protein but not enough overall calories, you'll struggle to be able to workout to build more muscle. If you eat enough calories but too much junk and not enough protein, your body won't be able to build up muscle tissue and will gain fat instead.
- Lean meats.
- Seafood.
- Beans.
- Soy.
- Low-fat dairy.
- Eggs.
- Nuts and seeds.
Best Overall: BioSteel 100% Whey Protein Powder
NSF certified and used by a wide range of athletes, whey protein is the most easily digestible form for most people. Despite being made from milk, whey protein isolate (the most plentiful type in this product), is virtually lactose free.
Because protein is filling, consuming it may result in a reduction of overall caloric intake. If you are focusing on calorie-balanced protein shakes you may find that adding shakes can result in overall reduced calorie intake throughout the day. Many times this translates into weight loss.
Protein is integral for various bodily functions, from repairing our cells to generating energy. Women, in particular, can benefit from adequate protein intake in a number of ways, whether it be weight management, lean muscle growth, bone health, post-workout recovery, or even the health of hair, skin, and nails.
If you're adding a protein shake that's already a liquid, you can mix it with your hot or iced coffee. Adding protein powder to iced coffee is also simple. Just mix the two and you're set.
Protein has many benefits and having a certain amount of it before sleep optimizes its advantages. Slow-digesting protein in a bedtime shake prolongs the duration of muscle protein synthesis, building muscles as you sleep. A protein shake at bedtime can preemptively fuel you for the day ahead.
Beginners can start with 20-30 grams of whey protein per serving, ideally post-workout, and adjust based on their protein needs and dietary goals.
Why do I feel sleepy after a protein shake?
There are a few reasons why you might feel sleepy after drinking protein shakes. One reason is that your body is trying to process the extra protein and it can be taxing on your system. Another reason could be that you're not used to the caffeine in some protein shakes, which can make you feel more tired than usual.
You can drink protein shakes as a meal replacement or snack to support weight loss. You can drink them in the morning as a quick and convenient breakfast, as a post-workout snack to aid muscle recovery, or as a replacement for a higher-calorie meal to help reduce your calorie intake.
Protein shakes are not meant to replace a meal. Their role is to supplement your diet and make it easier to meet your daily protein requirements when you're active. Ideally, these beverages should be consumed before and/or after exercise. Whey protein shakes are best for fuel lean muscle tissue growth.
“Protein helps keep you feeling full,” Maguire says. “So having a protein shake at breakfast — combined with some fruit or complex carbs and healthy fats — makes a complete, balanced meal that provides the energy and nutrition you need.”
Having a protein shake for breakfast isn't harmful to your health in any way regardless of your goal being to gain muscle or lose weight.
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