It’s understandable that there is scepticism when it comes to whey protein powder and supplements in general as a lot of them promise lots but deliver little.
To help you make your mind up about whey protein, I’ve answered some common questions so you can decide for yourself:
How do I benefit by including whey protein powder in my diet?
- Your body will be primed in the most effective way to build and maintain lean muscle tissue. More muscle tissue means less body fat and better body composition and tone.
- A take anywhere food that makes keeping to your eating plan easy, convenient and most importantly consistent!
- Money in your pocket! Whey protein powder will save you money! One serving of Whey protein powder gives you more protein for a lot less money than chicken breasts and steaks!
Aren’t protein powders only for bodybuilders and people who want to “get big”?
I’ve got to admit that a lot of the Whey Protein powders have some pretty scary packaging! Big, veiny, gorilla types with bulging biceps (and possibly an odour problem) are usually the first things that come into a lot of people’s minds when they think about a protein supplement.
Think about the corner of a health food shop that stocks protein powders, big scary tubs of powders that promise you will blow up like the guy on the packaging!
Relax…the truth is that won’t happen to you by drinking the shakes I promise! Protein shakes have been used in weight loss plans for over 20 years and they are not just a useful tool to bulk up but to slim down too.
The supplement companies appear to have wised up to their image problem and are now keeping the packaging plain, often without pictures in a bid to change people’s perceptions of using a supplement.
Don’t let common misconceptions or other peoples attitudes about a protein supplement rob you of reaping the benefits and rewards optimum protein supplementation brings!
Do I really need Whey Protein Powder?
Make no mistake about it, protein changes the way your body looks. When your exercise program includes resistance training with weights (and it should!) it challenges your body to develop to cope with the task being asked of it, such as lifting a dumbbell.
Consuming protein in any form (and Whey Protein Powder is the best) is the trigger that begins your body’s adaptation to ensure it can cope with the task in the future. Your body is naturally primed and ready to adapt, protein provides the fuel for this change to occur.
When you feed your body the right way, by giving it the essential nutrients it needs such as protein; it rewards you by changing itself for the better.
The better the quality of protein you feed it will determine how much of an effect it will have on your physique. Whey Protein is biologically the highest grade of protein available and your body will use this form most effectively.
Your muscles are actually made of protein and water which is why you build bigger, stronger muscles when you eat excess protein. The flipside of this is that if you don’t eat enough protein your body will break down your muscles to obtain the protein it needs. If you work hard in the gym then don’t let your efforts waste away by not eating right!
I can’t stress enough how much of a key nutrient protein is, you really need to make sure you are getting enough of it every single day. If your diet doesn’t already give you enough protein then a Whey Protein supplement will help fill in the gaps and keep you moving forwards.
Do I really need a protein supplement? Can’t I just eat more protein-rich foods?
Whilst you can and should eat protein-rich foods, the benefits of using a whey protein supplement outweigh any alternative approach.
Whey Protein is biologically the highest grade protein so it’s the premium choice for your body; it is also the fastest digesting form of protein which is a key attribute.
When you wake up in the morning your body has been starved of protein for an extended period of time, a Whey Protein shake is the perfect source of nutrition because the protein is absorbed quickly to stop your body breaking down your muscles.
Another time where fast digestion and absorption of protein is critical is during the post-workout “window of opportunity” when your muscle fibres have been broken down by weight training, the protein quickly gets to work rebuilding the muscles to make them bigger and stronger.
Eating any other protein based food would be too slow for your body to absorb. This would rob you of progress as your muscles would be crying out for a quick protein fix after being worked in the gym or starved for hours because of more pressing matters such as sleep or a busy schedule!
Why is Whey a better choice?
A medium chicken breast, one of the best protein-rich foods, contains around 30 grams of protein. One small serving of a Whey Protein powder mixed with water will give you 20-40g of protein in its most powerful form and it tastes good too!
The alternative protein-rich whole foods like chicken, steak, fish, eggs and dairy can feel heavy on the stomach so it can be hard to eat them in large quantities. A light on the stomach shake is easier to consume and you wont feel so lethargic afterwards.
How many chicken breasts could you eat before you got full up or bored of them? At 30 grams each a 140 pound person would need to eat roughly 4 and half a day to get the sufficient amount of protein. As versatile as chicken is, even the best chef would struggle after a month of eating in this way.
Whey Protein was invented to boost your protein levels without the boredom of chicken breast after chicken breast or the bloat associated with eating big chunks of meat all day!
If you already eat and enjoy protein-rich foods like fish, eggs and meat then it’s easier for you to eat enough protein. If you’re one of the many people who are not a fan of these foods it can be a real challenge to consume sufficient protein.
You need between 1 and 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight (1 pound = 2.2kg).
So if you weigh 140 pounds you need to eat at least 140 grams of protein each day. It’s even better if you eat a little more, I recommend 1.3 x your weight in pounds to begin with:
Minimum – 140 pounds x 1 gram protein per lb = 140 grams protein per day
Recommended (1.3) 140 pounds x 1.3 grams protein per lb = 182 grams per day
Sound like a lot? Well, a nice tasting shake can be the perfect solution for the fussy eaters amongst us, what’s more it’s quick and easy which is great if you live life in the fast lane where time is always an issue!
Is it safe to use a Whey Protein Supplement?
Yes, whey protein is safe for long term consumption and is a recommended part of many diet and eating plans.
If you are lactose intolerant then I would suggest you check with your doctor prior to using as whey is derived from milk.
Whey Protein Powder is the best choice after a workout, make sure your workout plan is solid and the effects will be optimised. Here’s 28 free downloadable workout plans for you!
Click Here to Return to the Homepage