Healthy Dose of Protein?

Protein Powders which contain whey powder are a recipe for disaster and possibly a heart attack waiting to happen and they really should be reserved for bodybuilders who are willing to take risk on their health and bodies with a good guide like a dietition or a nutritionist.

Plant based Protein Powders are slightly less risk to  your health and well being however they are not real food and should not replace a good old fashioned set of daily nutritional meals.

If you have fitness in mind and are struggling to find tasty and filling protein snacks because your trying to bulk up and build muscle I can understand why you would choose to eat a protein shake or protein ball as a snack, meal or starter but lets face it they aren't real food. They have been nutritionally balanced to have the appearance of a meal if you include milk but are in actual fact designed to increase the protein intake of those people who need more.

Someone wanting to eat a smaller meal with more nutritional content in that meal will benefit, however the calorie content is a problem for those who don't require the gains. As a women I have found the muscle gains from eating protein rich meals do work and as we age it does become more important to keep the protein content of our daily diets up because muscle loss and wastage can become an issue. 

Are there better options than protein powders?Some great alternatives to protein powder and meat (fish,chicken, beef and pork) include, tofu, yoghurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, eggs and nuts. For more information on nutritional information go to https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition 

Is a high protein diet needed? Lets face it, not really, unless you have an issue with muscle wasteage, are ageing or are a body builder. A dietitian would tell you to keep a nutritional balance and eat a varied diet with a standard meat a three vege meal involved at the end of the day. Don't skip breakfast, eat a healthy lunch and include two small snacks while trying to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Does anyone actually do that? Yes almost everyone is trying to do these recommended things.

My thoughts are that the protein powders have evolved because of nutritional problems found by those challenging their bodies and minds on a daily basis. This doesn't necessarily just include athletes and the average hard worker, lets also include the weekend warrior, the avid trekker, the marathon mums and the gym junkies. They are an easy meal or snack that is not the best choice but provides a quick and convenient protein injection.

Your individual needs are going to depend on your output so the whey products spouting claims about mass  and bulk should really be left to people willing to risk weight gain alongside muscle gain and heart attacks to get the results they want. This may include a decision to add a shapely muscular upsize to your lifestyle involving years of commitment to your mind and body so you can walk around with the look you want and possibly take your clothes off in public and make a specticle of yourself; or it may include an applause and medal after crossing the line having committed your time, energy and body to achieving a win.

If the above choices are not for you then perhaps you should consider eating a more natural protein with every meal and therefore avoid the possible heart attack, attraction to steroids and protein only extra meals. This might put you into a more normal category which will mean that you want to keep some muscle bulk while remaining within a normal weight range. For these types of choices lets face it you probably don't need a protein meal, replacement meal shake or protein ball that is high in calories.  This type of person is most likely going to occasionally phase in a protein shake to improve some muscle and bulk content. If that is the case the best choices are a plant based protein shake with some extra phytonutrients and antioxidants which will increase energy and improve performance without weighing you down. Used as a meal replacement for a short period to improve muscle mass this type of protein powder should be phased into a varied diet short term.

For those looking to lose weight the natural tendency should be to steer clear of protein meal replacements and shakes because of their calorie content. In this case say no the protein powder entirely and adopt a natural food diet with plenty of fish and chicken, rice products and vegetables. A protein powder meal replacement in this case because a crutch which will need to be phased out.

Conclusion

Whey protein powder  is really meant for bodybuilders or the sick and infirm who need to quickly recovery. For the normal people we have to wrestling with muscle mass and healthy weight ranges varying the diet will be the best choice so you can include protein powders if needed and spend most of your time eating a range of natural foods in a balanced way. For those in weight loss protein powders are a meal replacement and should be avoided because you will just have to learn to eat normally again. www.maggicclean.com.au/online-store