A Brief Guide to Understanding Today’s Protein Supplements

 

When it comes to the world of health and fitness, it seems like there are new products coming out all the time for us to try. Some of these products offer great results and some are not really all that spectacular, tending to fade off the health world’s radar after a time.

In the interest of broadening your knowledge, my Protein Shakes Guide covers the interesting topic of supplements. If you have noticed that protein supplements have been getting popular in recent years then you are certainly noticing a very real phenomenon. In fact, there are a whole lot of people, both men and women that are taking these supplements as a way to improve their health.

You might be wondering if protein supplements would be right for you, and if so, then you are in the right place.

We are going to take a look at these supplements and come to understand what all they have to offer.

But first, before we get too wrapped up in things, you probably want to know whether or not these products are really worth your time in the first place. Let’s cover that part before we go deeper.

 

The Key Question: Do Protein Supplements Really Work?

 

The short answer here is that yes they very much do work. In fact, the reason that protein supplements are so popular is because they have quite a long history of actually helping people build up incredible levels of muscle. You have probably seen different variations of these supplements being taken on TV or in the movies.

The famous scenes of Sylvester Stallone’s character drinking a raw egg shake in the Rocky films is a good example of this. You may also have heard that pro athletes bulk up on protein in order to get more out of their diet. This is true and since they do really build serious muscle with protein supplements, then you can bet that the market for these supplements is going to be extensive.

You do need to remember, though, that there is not simply one kind of supplement out there, there are quite a few. You will be able to get a closer look at what all you can choose from later on, but for right now you need to know that there are also different reasons that people decide to start taking these shakes and that each reason can lead to a different set of results.

We will not continue on and get educated on the ‘why’ aspect of these supplements so that you can understand how they work to help you build up muscle.

 

What is the Overall Importance of Protein Itself to Our Bodies?

 

In order to really understand how these supplements benefit you, let’s do a basic biology lesson. Protein is one of the key components of our body and it is present in the body’s many tissues.

Proteins are found in our organs, our skin, hair, nails and all parts of us. In fact, other than water, this is the primary component of the human body. In order to create the proteins needed to keep our bodies functioning, our body requires what are known as amino acids – the building blocks of proteins. You get amino acids from the foods that you eat.

This means, when you eat protein then your body breaks that down into amino acids and uses those to build new protein of your own that helps to repair damaged tissue. When you are doing strenuous physical exercise, most of the time you are tearing up your muscle tissue and the body then needs to repair it.

This is why muscles get bigger the more you work them out. The proteins come in handy for repairing that muscle tissue and actually, they are essential. If you do not consume enough protein then your muscles will not be able to get larger and stronger since there is not enough of what the body needs to grow its own muscles.

This explains why protein is so crucial to athletes, body builders and those who do a great deal of physical activity that causes them to need considerable muscle mass.

 

Do We Get Enough Protein Without Taking Protein Supplements?

 

Protein comes from a variety of different sources, as you probably learned in school. You can get it from meats, including beef, poultry, fish, seafood, pork or any other type of meat. Eggs, cheese, milk and other dairy products also contain protein so this is another key source.

Finally, certain beans and nuts contain protein, as well, so that is where people who are sticking to a vegetarian or vegan diet would need to turn in order to consume the proper amount of protein. As for whether or not a person needs protein supplements to give them enough to survive on, most of the time we do get enough protein in our standard diet. The issue comes up, though, that you might actually need more if you are going to be exercising strenuously and trying to build up your muscles.

It is certainly not easy to get all the protein you need from typical foods without consuming a lot of what you do not need at the same time. Fats, sugars, sodium and other things you might not want to intake in large quantities as you try to get healthier are some of the reasons you may want to stick with supplements for a source of extra protein. It is definitely helpful to take this approach, also, if you are eating a solely vegan or vegetarian diet where you might not have enough protein to stay fully healthy.

Since you can find supplements that are not deriving their protein from animal sources, this should be able to fit within your dietary guidelines without problems.

 

What Are the Reasons People Would Choose to Take Protein Supplements?

 

Athletes, as we mentioned earlier, often decide that they are going to take these supplements because they need a significant amount of skeletal muscle in order to perform at their best. Other reasons that people might look to protein supplements as a way to improve their nutrition definitely include losing weight because, as you probably know already, the more muscle tissue you have, the faster you will be able to burn calories.

Also, for those who are trying to cut down on carbs, there are protein supplements that can give them the extra protein they want for keeping their tissue healthy without all of the carbs that certain shakes might contain which could work against what they are trying to do.

It should be mentioned, too, that even if you are not an athlete, doing a great deal of physical exercise could cause you to need more protein than you needed before and these supplements can be an excellent way to make sure that you get it without the unwanted calories that would work against your goals.

In addition, some people simply want to consume more protein because they want to be closer to the recommended daily amount and do not wish to consume more meat in order to achieve that goal despite not having a weight problem or any inhibitions about consuming meat.

Finally, there are those who are underweight that are trying to bulk up and increase their weight for fitness or athletic purposes. These people typically will be taking in protein, carbs and even fat to help them towards that goal.

 

Where the Protein in Protein Supplements on the Market Today Comes From

 

There are a number of different sources for the protein that you would find in a typical supplement. Most commonly, whey is going to be the source of most protein supplements we see on the market today. This is very popular in fitness and nutrition circles, especially among those who are doing body building or working out on a regular basis.

This kind of protein is derived from milk and since it is extremely available to the body, known as being BV or bioavailable, it is often chosen for drinking after workout sessions since it can begin repairing muscles right away. Casein is another milk derived form of protein that is also popular, but studies show that this form of protein can take a little bit longer to be put to use by the body.

Some say that those working out heavily for years do better with casein or egg derived protein supplements than those from whey, but this does end up coming down to a personal preference. Egg protein does take a while for the body to use, but it is also popular, especially for those who want to make their own shakes or other supplements at home.

Soy is another choice for those who would rather avoid having to take in animal based protein. It is still being debated in the nutrition community just how beneficial this kind of protein source could be, but it is popularly used among many people today. Other vegetable derived protein supplements would be those that use wheat protein or, the gluten free alternative, pea protein.

 

How Does One Decide Which Protein Supplements Would Be Best for Themselves?

 

The first thing you are going to want to consider is what your goal will be with taking these supplements. There are a huge variety of different products on the market and each of them offers something a little bit different.

What matters is that you have chosen the right kind of product for your needs. If you are looking to reduce pounds, then you will want to choose protein supplements that are not going to load you up with carbs that you do not need. Carbs are generally consumed in larger quantity for those who are doing heavy workouts, but if this is not you then you want to stick with a product that has plenty of protein and not so many carbs.

This extra protein will help you to burn off fat by speeding up your metabolism. If you are involved in athletics or looking to do body building then protein supplements will be something you absolutely need to be consuming.

There is just no other way that you can get all you need in terms of protein for a great deal of muscle building. Also, athletes who will be expending a lot of energy running will need extra carbs to help them avoid fatigue during performance.

There are even weight gainers out there which help you get the protein you need to help you consume enough calories when your high metabolism might otherwise work against you.

There are a lot of supplements out there in forms like protein bars, protein shake powders, meal replacers, and specially formulated weight gaining products. Once you start looking around, you will see you have a whole lot of options.

 

Always Follow the Instructions Protein Supplements Come With

 

It needs to be said that following the directions that any product you buy for helping to supplement your protein needs should definitely be carefully researched. This is your body, after all, and you want to be careful what you put into it. Products come with labels and even guides that show you how to use them effectively so use that to your advantage.

In addition, it is not a bad idea to consult with your doctor before changing your diet or work-out routine significantly. They will know the most about how to help you get to the level of health you want to achieve.

 

Places You Can Look to Find Protein Supplements at Good Prices

 

For those of us that are trying to get the very best prices on the products we want, the local health store is rarely going to be the best value. Instead, looking online for protein supplements is typically going to be a solid way to save.

There are some companies that even offered scheduled deliveries so that you do not even need to remember to buy more on any kind of schedule. If you do things right, you should be able to get the products you want for less this way.