2011-10-09

How to Shop for Protein Powders

Picking your Powders~ Part I
The Power of Protein




Quick powdered drinks are becoming a more familiar sight on the grocery shelves.


They are formulated powders that you mix with a glass of water or juice
or whatever you fancy, their variety seems endless and the claims they make vary just as much.

These liquid concoctions are being consumed for mental pick-me-ups during a mid afternoon slump or a speedy meal-in-a-glass on the run.

They are drunk to lose weight and drunk to gain weight.

They are manufactured by everyone from health food gurus, to the breakfast cereal companies to the department stores.

But as you look at the punch behind the product, you find they are all a little different.

Here are a few quick tips when shopping for your perfect powder.



Powders , Powders EVERYWHERE!

Which Powder is What?



Firstly, know what you are after.




Generally, there are 3 typical powders for you to sort out while you shop;
the protein powder, the weight loss/ meal replacement drink and the nutritional supplement.

Each will be formulated with a singular purpose with each having different results on your beautiful bod.

Over the next few articles, you will get a crash course on these handy beverages starting, today, with the protein powder.



OK, So What's The Protein All About?



Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are often referred to as the building blocks of life.


They build muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails, and are necessary for many internal functions and important in body repair.


A human body does need protein daily, as it does not store excess protein.

Obviously, as proteins have been the key to bulking up muscle, protein powders have been a staple for weight lifters and athletes.

But protein powders are also a favorite among vegetarians.


As well, they are being taken as a successful weight loss protocol and healing elixir.

Protein powders have also found a market as a brain-fog buster for working folk and students, alike.




What In The World Is In This Stuff?



A big key in picking your protein powders is an understanding of the different sources of proteins, and knowing which ingredients you want for yourself and your body, and making an aware decision.

There are excellent sources of both animal and vegetarian proteins
available.
All can be very potent for what you need and able to do what you wish.

Vegetarian sources that are high in easy to absorb protein are pea protein, brown rice protein, alfalfa, macca root and cranberry protein.

My personal favorites have become hemp and chia seed.
Hemp and chia seeds have the most complete edible and usable protein in
the vegetable kingdom.
Hemp protein contains all known amino acids, including the essential ones
adult bodies cannot produce.
They also have the added benefit of natural essential oils.

All vegetarian sources of protein bring with them additional nutrients found in the plant and a component of fiber.

Soy, which held the consumer market as a vegetarian super protein, has fallen from its perceived healthy glory.


Unfortunately, almost 90% of soy produced is genetically altered and chemically treated and soy has now been shown to cause havoc with your hormones.

In light of other clean and powerful natural proteins rising to the forefront, soy can easily be avoided.


Carnivores Drink Protein Powders Too!




Animal sources of protein have dominated the powders as long as there has been protein powders to blend.

Dairy sources include whey protein and casein proteins, both recognized for their high amino acid level.
Other sources you may find on your powder’s label could be egg and collagen.

Your protein powder label will often find many of these sources blended together to compliment each other.
That way you benefit from full spectrum of proteins, absorbing at varying rates into your cells and tissues.


Read The "Secret Ingredient" List



Now this is what you want to be on the look out for when shopping for your protein powders.


A drink is only as good as the sum of its ingredients and the source of your ingredients will always be as important as the ingredients themselves.

Many protein powder contains an array of questionable ingredients such as aspartame, Splenda, saccharin, fructose and artificial colors



Also avoid products with refined carbohydrates such as sugar, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, corn products or brown rice syrup.



Stay clear of labels with vegetable oils.



Secondly make sure that the powder that you select is mostly protein.


The cheaper powders have a lot of carbohydrates and fillers, and if you are shopping for protein, then its protein you want to get.



For a quick comparison, the favorite powders in my cupboard range from
15-20 grams per serving.



With both animal and vegetable sources make certain your label says organic and non-GMO products, other wise you may be absorbing hidden health stealing chemicals and doing more harm than good.




Protein Powders are Cool. But Do I Need Them?



For anyone considering that protein powders may be your next new thing, take the time to consider your needs and lifestyle.



Ingesting more protein than your body needs is not a small matter.

The average American already consumes about fifty percent more protein than the recommended daily amount.

Too much protein can strain your body’s digestion, age you prematurely and can cause significant harm in the long run.

And for anyone considering protein as a weight loss regime, also remember that the excess protein your body does not use is not stored as protein.

The maximum muscle mass a body can typically build in one week is about one pound; any extra protein is converted to fat.

Yes, athletes and those with a regular strenuous lifestyle require more protein than many of us; the body’s need for protein is proportional to the increased calories burned with exercise.

Along with physical activity, the amount of protein required, does vary on many factors, including body weight, age, health, with growing children and pregnant women requiring more.


As a general guideline, the recommended dietary allowance for protein for adults is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight per day.

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