If you have looked at any bodybuilding magazine or website, then you have seen the various ads for protein supplements. The various bars, powders and pills all promise to make you huge, ripped and powerful, but do they really do all that? Taking protein supplements is a no-brainer if you want to increase muscle mass, but let’s look at this realistically.
What Are Protein Supplements?
Protein supplements are derived from high protein foods or substances. The two most common are whey and soy, but there are also casein, egg, hemp and rice supplements.
The substance is put through a filter that strains out the protein while the majority of the carbs, sugars and fats are left behind. The collected protein is then refined by going through an ion exchange tower. Electricity and ions are used to separate the purer protein elements from the inferior ones. Lastly, the protein is generally dried and turned into a powder, which can then be used as is, or it can be added to the various bars and other supplements that exist.
Pros
Protein powder is much easier to make when compared to cooking eggs, chicken, beef and other common protein-centric foods.
Protein supplements also digest faster. This is because the proteins are filtered and processed, so the body can absorb the amino acids faster than with meat, which the body has to break down to get the protein. This is great for a post-workout recovery drink because the body needs protein now to help the muscles rebuild.
Ingesting a supplement is much easier than eating all the protein you need in a day. If you weight 180 pounds, then you need to eat two cans of tuna, several cups of milk, a chicken breast and eight ounces of meat to get all the protein you need for bodybuilding. That’s a lot of food, and it doesn’t leave much room for everything else you need in the day. Protein supplements are easier to drink or eat, so you can get all that protein without stuffing yourself.
Cons
Many people think that supplements are miracle workers. They aren’t. You aren’t going to gain instant muscle, and you aren’t going to notice the gains in just a few days. Drinking a glass of protein powder is about the same as eating a chicken breast, and it will have the same results. At the same time, the increased protein will have a noticeable long-term effect on your body.
Most advertisements make it seem like protein supplements are better than other protein sources. While the speed of their digestion is a definite advantage, there is no evidence showing that supplements are more effective than regular protein sources for building muscles.
Some protein supplements just contain 30% protein, which isn’t all that much. This can be avoided by just checking the label and getting the best supplements available.
Effective Uses
Protein supplements are effective if they are used correctly.
The supplements should never replace a whole meal. They are supplements, not meal replacements. You can treat them like a snack, but treating them like a meal can hurt your progress. Have your supplements paired with an actual meal to get the best benefits.
Drink them at the right times. Whey protein powder digests very quickly, so it is useful after a workout when you desperately need protein. The same goes for soy and hemp supplements. However, casein tends to go slower, and many people drink it before going to bed to help the body recover through the night.
Increase your muscular recovery by using supplements on your recovery days. The extra protein will help your muscles recover faster from an intense workout, and any muscular breakdown will be minimized.
Pricing Considerations
The one area where most people get irritated is price. Protein supplements tend to be expensive. This is especially true for the supplements that have the most protein. So, is it worth buying?
If you want to compare penny to penny, then buying chicken and eggs would be cheaper than protein powders and supplements. However, you have to remember the convenience of protein powder.
It is much easier to make, and the ease of digestion has many benefits. If you don’t mind cooking every protein meal, then maybe supplements aren’t for you. But, if you just want to grab some protein and go, then it doesn’t get much better than with a supplement such as the Shakeology protein supplement from Beachbody.
Conclusion
It should now be somewhat more clear the benefits of taking a protein supplement. Those benefits are exponentially increased when you combine a high quality supplement with an effective work out program. Depending on your fitness goals, there are plenty to choose from. I recommend doing some research and that you take your body to the next level of fitness.
Good luck in your fitness goals and thanks for reading.
