What is the best protein?

If you’ve spent any time at a gym then you’ve either heard about or already know about protein. But what exactly is it? Protein is the natural building block of muscle mass found in many food sources. Protein powders, on the other hand, are convenient ways to get high-quality protein into your system quickly.

These days you can get protein powders in many forms:

• Capsules or tablets
• Shakes
• Protein Bars

The type you choose is entirely dependent on yourself but it’s important to remember that you shouldn’t take protein supplements as a replacement of regular meals. As your trainers at the gym will tell you, there’s no substitution for a protein-rich diet.

Do you need to take protein?

It’s a good question to ask, do I really need to take protein? Well let us ask you a question, do you train in any of the following ways:

• Weight lifting
• Cardio
• Endurance training

If so, you probably need more protein than the average person. By supplementing regular meals with protein, you can build muscle mass and achieve your goals faster. That’s an important word to remember - supplement.

Protein shakes are supplements and so they need to be taken along with a healthy diet for maximum effect. By regularly eating red meat, fish, and nuts and other sources of protein you can make better use of protein shakes.

How much protein should I take?

If you are already eating a particularly protein-rich diet, you may not need to take as much protein powder. Generally the amount of protein that we should consume each day depends on the diet, intensity and type of exercise. The usual range is from 1 g to 2.5 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight. Most protein powders come with serving recommendations on the packaging.

Types of Protein Powder:

There are a number of different types of protein to consider. For those who need fast-digesting protein after a hard training session, whey protein is what you’re looking for. For those who take protein late at night, you could consider casein protein. This is a protein that is slow acting and can build muscle mass while you sleep.

• Whey Protein
• Whey Protein Isolate
• Casein
• Vegan Protein
• Beef Protein
• Mass Gainer

Whey protein is abundant in amino acids which are essential to help athletes and bodybuilders repair muscle damage. After you’ve been in the gym and you’re feeling sore, that’s when these amino acids get to work. They help your body’s muscle tissues recuperate faster.

You can find whey protein in a number of forms including:

• Concentrate
• Isolate
• Hydrolysate
• Native

Check the product details before ordering to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for.

Whey Protein Isolate

What’s the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate?

Well, a few things. For one thing, you can find that you’ll pay a bit more for isolate, but is higher in protein and really low in fats and sugars. Loads of Isolate Proteins are Gluten and Lactose free as well. The production of whey protein isolate is incredibly similar to whey except for a few factors. Similarly to whey concentrate, isolate is derived as a by product of yogurt or cheese production but measures are taken to reduce both the fat and carbohydrate content. The result is that the whey protein isolate contains roughly 90% more protein than concentrate. Whey protein isolates are also the typical choice for those who are lactose-intolerant as it contains a lot less lactose.

Casein Protein

Similar to whey, casein protein is also derived from milk. But what’s the difference? The reason why you would choose casein protein over whey protein comes down to the absorption rate. Casein is absorbed by the body a lot slower than typical whey or whey isolate. Choosing between a fast-acting protein and a slow-releasing one can come down to personal preference. However, one study found that “in contrast to young subjects, a fast protein may be more beneficial than a slow one in elderly subjects, to limit body protein loss”.

Vegan Protein Powder

Just because you don’t want to eat animal products doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the benefits of protein powder. Vegans now have a range of 100% vegan-friendly protein powders they can use as an after-workout supplement. You can now get vegan protein powders that are extracted entirely from plant matter. As demand has increased hemp protein, pea protein, and soy protein, for example, are becoming commonplace.

Beef Protein

Incredibly self-explanatory, beef protein powders are taken from the high protein levels found in beef. Athletes and bodybuilders alike can build lean muscle by using low-fat beef protein to supplement their exercise routines. We stock a range of beef protein powders and drinks designed to enhance muscle growth and promote healthy bone density.

Mass Gainer

Mass gainers simply effective ways of getting more calories into your diet easily. The more calories you have in your diet to burn through the greater the amount of mass you can gain. It’s simple. Here’s the surprising part, it’s not the same as a regular protein because it may actually contain less protein than your whey or casein protein. However, it will contain more calories than the whey along with a greater amount of carbohydrates. These carbs will give you an extra boost of energy before or after a hard training session. Complemented by a full and rich diet, mass gainers will be just one more weapon in the fight to build your muscles.