In fitness, there are two words everyone has heard: protein powders.
That’s why today we’re breaking down what protein powders are, their effect, and how you can fit it into a lifestyle routine to help you achieve your goals. Why protein? Well, as we’ll discuss further down, protein intake is crucial for your body’s ability to build muscle, repair tissue, make enzymes and regulate hormones. Plus, protein packs essential nutrients, motivation, and energy you need to keep going, even when the going gets tough.
What is Protein and Do I Need It?
There’s nothing more personal than your health. That’s simply because everybody is different and unique. There are, however, certain bodily functions which, by design, run similarly for everyone. Think about it. Breathing, eating, digestion; these are exactly the same for all.
Protein is considered a macronutrient essential to the continued fueling of your body. Essentially every food source you consume has a percentage of protein in it. As your body digests the food you eat, it absorbs the protein source and uses it to supply your body with the energy it needs to keep running.
Depending on your gender, the daily recommended dietary protein intake allowance is 46 grams per day for women and 56 grams for men.
For example, here are the percentages of protein found in the following foods:
An egg for breakfast (6 grams)
6 ounces of plain Greek yogurt at lunch (18 grams)
A handful of nuts for a snack (4–7 grams
What Protein Blend is Best for Me?
Protein powders are a great way to boost the amount of daily protein you consume. These blends align to your body’s natural process of creating energy, aiding that natural process.
Not all protein blends, however, are made the same. Just as there are many types of foods, the nutritional makeup of one will differ from another. Take an apple and a doughnut. Both are food sources, but their nutritional values will vary greatly and will affect your lifestyle goals differently.
When you are considering what type of protein blend to add to your daily lifestyle regimen, it’s always a good idea to go with an individualized blend. Nowadays, there exist online services that can allow you to speak 1:1 with a licensed nutritional expert who can help you make sense of what supplements are best suited to your needs and goals.
Generally speaking, however, protein blends found online and in supermarkets - including vegan blends - come packed with sugar and low-nutrients that can harbor health risks. Adding protein powder to a glass of milk or a smoothie may seem like a simple way to boost your health, but you’ll often sacrifice nutrients for convenience.
It's very important to use protein powders from healthy sources, ones that are unflavored, have no sugar, and are chemical free.
Click on the button below to find several healthy options which are also sugar-free
Are There Any Alternatives to Protein Powders?
There are many natural protein-packed foods that contain essential minerals and nutrients to help us meet or boost our daily protein intake. One of the most protein-dense foods available is bone broth.
Bone broth contains an array of nutritional benefits in addition to protein that can help promote joint and muscle health, as well as the health of our hair, skin, brain, and gut health. Some of these nutrients include:
Essential amino acids
Collagen and gelatin
Electrolytes and minerals
Calcium
Magnesium
Potassium
Phosphorous
I’ve written about a great bone broth and its nutritional makeup here:
Now you can even purchase homemade, organic grass-fed broth directly from me!
Closing Thoughts
While I will always be partial to consuming protein directly from the food source, protein powder blends have become a fast and convenient way to add a protein boost to your diet. However, doing the research to find the right quality and match for your body type will ensure that your lifestyle change is as fruitful as it can be.
For help discussing your lifestyle or nutritional needs, feel free to message me or book an intro session here:
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