When you think about protein shakes, you probably picture huge bodybuilders. But protein shakes can be beneficial to everyone; men and women included. When combined with a diet full of lean protein sources, vegetables, fruits, and healthy carbs, protein shakes can help you gain greater results for a wide range of exercise and diet goals.
Can Protein Shakes Help Me Lose Weight?
Protein shakes can help you gain or lose weight depending on your fitness goals. They also help you lose fat while still preserving your muscle mass. Additionally, protein shakes can help reduce hunger, so you don’t eat too many calories after a workout. For these reasons, protein shakes are the perfect meal replacement drink for easy portion control.
The Importance of Protein in Your Diet
Before you jump on the protein shake bandwagon, it’s best to understand the importance of protein. When people exercise, whether they are doing resistance training or steady cardio, they are tearing their muscle tissues and then allowing them to rebuild. Through the tearing and rebuilding of muscle tissues, muscles develop and grow stronger. In order for the body to grow its muscles, it needs plenty of protein for the rebuilding process. Drinking protein shakes can also help increase recovery time.
If protein comes from so many other sources, then why are protein shakes so important? Adults should be aiming to consume anywhere from 45-56 grams of protein per day, and even more, if you exercise regularly. You can consume that much protein through solid foods, but it’s not always easy to get enough. Protein shakes are a useful dietary supplement that you can use to make sure that your body receives enough protein.
How Protein Shakes Can Help You Reach Your Fitness and Health Goals
Protein enters the bloodstream faster in liquid form when compared to food sources, which is why protein shakes are ideal to drink right after a workout. These shakes contain protein, some carbohydrates, and sometimes a little fat to help replenish your body and promote muscle growth. Protein shakes can make a real difference in helping you reach your fitness goals. All you need is a shaker bottle and some water to make a protein shake, which is much easier than cooking a whole meal right after your workout. If you are crunched for time, protein shakes can be your biggest ally.
If you are ready to start drinking protein shakes, keep in mind that they come in a variety of forms and flavors, so you will want to do your research to find one that is high quality and that works for your body.
Whey protein is the most common, but there are also other forms like hemp or soy if you are sensitive to milk products. For a well-rounded meal replacement drink, you can also add nutrients to your protein shake by blending it with frozen berries, flax or chia seeds, coconut oil, peanut butter, and more.