Emma Taylor
16 June 2020
Using protein powder as a meal replacement can often be a smart move when following a weight-loss plan as it takes more time for the body to digest keeping you fuller for longer. In this article we’re going to look at the benefits of protein powder and how it can promote weight loss.
As mentioned, many people are starting to use protein shakes as a form of replacement meals. This is fine, however ideally these forms of diets should also partner with regular workout sessions. That is, do not rely purely on the shakes, as these in isolation will not really help you attain your weight loss goals on their own. At the end of the day, it’s is all about energy in and energy expended.
There are a variety of different types of proteins, but today let’s just look at Whey. So whey protein is where milk is acidified and forms curds and whey. Ordinarily, this liquid would be simply discarded as a useless by-product, however a few decades ago, some chemical engineers found that this actually had value. This liquid could be ultra filtered and concentrated, and made into a ready to mix powder, which nowadays is a very popular product on the market.
So, many people want to know how to use whey protein to help with their weight loss plans. No matter what you’re eating though, you still need to be in a caloric deficit as mentioned. The reason that protein is such a helpful ingredient when looking to lose weight, is because it is a very high protein, low carb and low fat ingredient. Typically, many people fall short on their daily protein consumption. We know that protein consumption is essential to help with weight loss, because your body cannot obtain all of the amino acids that it needs.
There are essential amino acids that you need to get from real food, and so whey protein is in a perfect example. These essential amino acids are required by your body cells, and essentially builds up your body and helps you in the process of weight loss. It is a complete protein because it contains all of the essential amino acids. In order to make whey protein work for you, you can try eating it as a high-protein breakfast. This can make you feel substantially fuller and boost your energy and mental focus throughout the day ahead.
By being full, it can help you avoid junk foods, such as chips and crackers, and really aids in limiting cravings, which will really help you in the weight loss process. These protein shake powders can be incorporated in different recipes to make your meals healthier. These low-fat shakes can really help your body repair things such as hair, bones, damaged tissue like skin and muscle. They also help women produce higher levels of estrogen.
Another method is as a post-workout supplement, where you use it to help deplete restore and help recover your torn muscle fibers. You can turn it into a wide variety of things, however be aware that not all whey proteins are created equally. You will always want to read the labels. You always want to look at the macros. There can be a large difference between whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate . The difference is that whey protein concentrate is typically 80% protein and it’s going to have more fat and carbs. On the other hand, protein isolate is as pure as you can get, with 90% protein with it’s virtually no carbs and very low in fat almost like one gram of fat or even less.
Eating extra protein can make your dieting easier and more effective, especially when a person is not dieting but still engaging in regular workouts. If you are dieting however, it is generally recommended to increase daily protein intake to one gram of protein per pound body weight.
So if you want to use whey protein into your meal plan you can certainly do. There is no real benefit of getting it from protein versus real whole food, however it’s a little bit more convenient, and certainly more economical to get it from protein powders.
