Your Complete Guide to Protein Powders
Your complete guide to protein powders. What is best for building muscle, what’s best for weight loss, and so much more! Everything you need to know about protein powders!
With so many different types of protein powders on the market, you might find yourself wondering, which one you should choose? When should I be taking it? Why should I be taking it? I will answer all of your questions!
Whey Protein:
- Protein from milk
- Well absorbed and easily used by the body, making it perfect for building muscle
- Absorbed quickly, making the best time to use it right after a workout
Casein Protein:
- The main protein in milk
- Released more slowly than why protein
- Helps you feel full, which makes it beneficial for weight loss
- This protein is great added to breakfast smoothies to make them more satiating. They are also great before bed to build muscle
Egg White Protein:
- A great protein if you have a dairy allergy or on a paleo diet
- The absorption rate is medium, somewhere between Whey and Casein
- Not as well absorbed as the milk-derived protein, but still a good option for a post-workout shake or a morning smoothie.
Soy Protein:
- A complete plant-based protein
- Soy helps lower cholesterol and provides bone health benefits
Pea Protein:
- Comes from yellow split peas
- Good for people with allergies, easy to digest
- Not a complete protein which is why it is often paired with rice protein powders, to help ensure you get all of the essential amino acids
Hemp Protein:
- Not a complete protein
- You get the added benefits of omega-3 fatty acids which reduce inflammation
- Lower in protein than the rest, therefore, it is good to combine with pea protein to make a complete protein.
After Reading This List, You Might Be Wondering A Few Things:
What Makes A Complete Protein?
A complete protein contains all nine essential amino acids, whereas incomplete proteins are missing one or more.
What Are The 9 Essential Amino Acids:
- Histidine
- Isoleucine
- Leucine
- Lysine
- Methionine
- Phenylalanine
- Threonine
- Tryptophan
- Valine
Essential amino acids can’t be made by our bodies, meaning we MUST be obtaining them through our diets.
The best sources for essential amino acids are animal proteins like meat, eggs, and poultry. When you eat protein, it’s broken down into amino acids, which are then used to help your body with various processes such as building muscle and regulating immune function.
Summary Of The Complete Guide To Protein Powders:
In this complete guide to protein powders, we reviewed the protein powders that are currently available today. As well as what makes a complete protein. And what the 9 essential amino acids are and why!