Protein Power Mix – Web MD Touts The Benefits Of Protein Shakes

Protein shakes

(THP) As interest in health and nutrition grows, more and more people are trying protein shakes as a way to lose weight or enhance their sports performance. What do protein shakes consist of, and what are their true benefits? Here’s some information to guide you.

What are protein shakes?

Protein is one of the body’s main building blocks for muscle, bone, skin, and other tissues. Used often by athletes, protein shakes come in many combinations of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. They can range from 100% protein to mostly carbohydrates with a little added protein and fat. Protein shakes come in a variety of flavours in powder form or in ready-to-drink packages, such as cans or foil packs.

What are the benefits of protein shakes?

Safe for people who are healthy and fit, protein shakes are used mainly by athletes who need nourishment right after their workouts, says Jose Antonio, chief executive officer and co-founder of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). ‘Most people can’t make a meal immediately post-workout’, he says. ‘So these ready-to-drink shakes are really your best alternative’.

According to the ISSN, protein shakes are a safe way to ensure enough protein, when used as part of a balanced, nutrient-rich diet. This counters the view that protein shakes can be harmful to kidneys or bones.

• Although research hasn’t proven their role in sports performance and muscle strength, protein shakes may offer certain benefits.
• An endurance athlete may find it easier to train with the help of protein shakes, says Antonio. That’s because they help the body recover from intense exercise. Protein shakes do this mainly by restoring muscle glycogen, a fuel source for exercise, which gets used up during workouts.
• For the strength athlete, protein shakes can also help repair damage to muscles that can occur with serious bodybuilding.
• The general fitness enthusiast who works out hard but doesn’t want to be a marathon runner or bodybuilder may also benefit, says Antonio. This is the kind of person who might run twice a week and lift weights twice a week.

Some research shows other benefits as well. For example, a study of 130 U.S. Marines looked at intense exercisers who supplemented their diet with 10 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrates, and 3 g of fat. They had fewer infections, less heat exhaustion, and less muscle soreness. Some protein shakes may help with weight management, as well. But more research is needed to confirm this.

How much protein do you need?

Almost all people can get the protein they need from whole foods and drinks in their diet. The recommended daily intake of protein for healthy adults is 0.75 g of protein per kilogram of body weight, or about 45 to 56 g of protein a day.

How much protein do you need? continued…

In most cases, only those who are active and restrict calories or are strict vegetarians are at risk for low protein.

People who exercise regularly do need more energy. They may also need a little more protein than people who are less active. Adding protein doesn’t add muscle mass, though, as many people believe.

The ISSN recommends that exercisers get 1.4 to 2 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. Endurance athletes should be at the lower end of this range and strength athletes at the higher end. How much you need depends on the type and intensity of your exercise, the quality of the protein you eat, and your energy level and carbohydrate intake.

This is what the ISSN recommends:

• For endurance athletes: 1 to 1.6 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, depending on intensity and duration of exercise and the training status of the athlete
• For strength or power athletes: 1.6 to 2 g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily

What is the protein content of protein shakes?

Everyone, including athletes, can meet their protein needs without supplements or shakes. When choosing protein shakes, read the label to select the one with the composition that meets your needs.

Protein shakes vary in protein content. ‘If you’re a body builder, you’re going to shift to the drinks that have a bit more protein’. like Worldwide Sport Nutrition says Antonio. Endurance athletes are likely to favour drinks with more carbohydrates, he says, but the most important thing is simply to drink something after your workout.

If your goal is to lose body fat, change to a protein shake that’s mainly protein, has fewer carbohydrates, and only a little bit of fat, such as Slim-Fast. ‘Make sure the product is more than 50% protein if your goal is body fat loss’, Antonio says.

For those in the middle range — someone who works out regularly but isn’t at the competitive level — a popular protein shake is Muscle Milk. It fits somewhere between high-protein and high-carbohydrate shakes, says Antonio. Muscle Milk contains milk protein, combined with carbs and fats. It contains more fat than the average protein shake, he says, but it’s a type that does not increase cardiovascular risk.

What are the different types of protein in protein shakes?

Protein shakes contain many different types of protein in varying amounts. They may include:

• Milk
• Whey
• Casein
• Egg
• Soy

The source of the protein and how it’s purified during manufacturing may affect how well your body can digest and absorb its amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Although it’s best to obtain protein through your diet, supplementing it with a combination of whey and casein is a good choice.

What are the different types of protein in protein shakes? continued…

Whey protein is:

• A protein found in milk
• Fast-absorbing
• In your body for a shorter time
• A good supplement after intense workouts

Casein protein is:

• The main protein in milk
• Slow-absorbing
• In your body for a longer time
• A good supplement for meal replacements or to take before bed

Soy protein is as effective as most animal sources of protein, although many male athletes think of it as a ‘girl’s protein’, Antonio says. ‘But this is where public perception and scientific reality clash’. Research doesn’t support the fears that soy protein lowers blood levels of testosterone or reduces lean body mass.

Some women may take soy protein shakes in the hopes of curbing menopausal symptoms. But research results have been mixed.

Soy protein is:

• A plant-based source of protein
• As digestible as other sources of protein
• Known for its antioxidant capabilities
• A good supplement for meal replacements

Protein Power Mix is a whey protein drink that is simply the best sports shake available. To learn more click here>>

True Healthy Products, LLC
915 N Courtenay Parkway
Merritt Island, FL 32953
USA
Email: support@truehealthyproducts.com
Toll Free: 888-400-2920
Fax: 321-821-1310

Protein Power Mix – Best Foods For Weight Gain

(THP) For many, gaining weight in a reasonable amount of time is irritating. If you are a naturally thin ectomorph or the overactive athlete that needs to gain weight in order to “make weight,” then these healthy calorie foods can help you gain weight the safe and effective way.

The most important thing to keep in mind when trying to gain weight is that you have got to eat healthy, no short cuts. There are hundreds of protein shakes and other weight gaining supplements that can help, but they really shouldn’t be the sole supplement to help you gain weight. A diet high in natural proteins, calcium, vitamin D, and fish oil can make all the difference. Protein shakes and other supplements will make great supplements, but not meal replacements. My best solution for gaining weight was a diet low in saturated fats and high in monosaturated fats. So cook with extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, and almond oil to add in more healthy calories for your meals.

Understand that to reach your goal weight, you must be eating enough calories per day that is for your specific frame. Estimate, not obsess, over the calories you need according to the Body Mass Index system.

GAIN WEIGHT FOODIES

Proteins & Omega 3: Aim to eat 4-6 meals per day, each having the required protein serving. Protein shakes are okay, especially for the athlete that needs to replenish after a heavy workout, but aim to eat snacks that are high in natural proteins. This includes nuts, milk & eggs, pork, fish, and chicken. Try to reduce fried foods and eat lean meats cooked in olive oil or canola. Dress up your foods and naturally add in more calories by adding olive oil to your seeds and nuts as well. Keep in mind that foods high in protein like  nuts are also a good source of omega 3.

Protein Power Mix is a quality protein whey drink that builds muscle and weight gain.  To learn more click here>>

Milk: They never lied when they said milk does a body good. The benefits of drinking at least 3 glasses a day can help even the most underweight person gain by leaps and bounds. Goat’s milk best to consume because the health benefits are exceptional.

Fresh Fruits: Fruits can be light foods but can help you gain weight faster if you use them in smoothies. Add in your favorite fruit and blend up smoothies with all egg whites (bought from store), and a tablespoon of fiber (wheat germ), and a tablespoon of flaxseed or fish oil to get the omega 3 benefits.

- By Cameron E. Holmes

True Healthy Products, LLC
915 N Courtenay Parkway
Merritt Island, FL 32953
USA
Email: support@truehealthyproducts.com
Toll Free: 888-400-2920
Fax: 321-821-1310