Having access to a Protein Supplement can give you the edge to reach your fat loss or muscle building goals fasterMany people find that having a protein supplement around is helpful in the quest to shed body fat while keeping the metabolism stoked. Due to busy schedules and boredom with traditional protein sources, many people find that the occasional protein bar or protein shake makes all the difference in getting the recommended amount of protein in per day as a person who exercises and is following a fat-loss or muscle-building diet.
Before we continue, I have to make sure you understand that a protein supplement is not the miracle solution that will get you a great body. If a protein supplement company claims that's the case, they're lying to you: plain and simple. However, if you go too long without eating high-quality, protein-containing food, you will pay the price of fewer results from your exercise program. Most people understand why they should eat a well-balanced selection of food between 3 and 6 times per day--but they don't know how to keep up with it. If you're a busy person, or simply don't want to eat chicken breast and cottage cheese all day, protein bars or shakes might be the answer you're looking for. They also happen to help with portion control, keeping your total calories for the day in line. Once you've decided that you can benefit from meal replacements or protein supplements, you might want to know whether protein bars or protein shakes are better. Generally, protein shakes are preferable to protein bars. Bars are certainly better than going without, but they aren't quite as diet-friendly as shakes. You see, to maintain the consistency of a bar, certain ingredients are included (namely, sugar or sugar alcohols and fat) that are not the highest quality or the best nutrition. Labelers use tricks, deception, and legal labeling loopholes (say that three times fast!) to promote bars as "sugar free" or "low carb," but this doesn't always mean that the bar is great for fat-loss. Too many calories still will stall your fat loss efforts, whether they be from sugar alcohols or extra fat. Sugar alcohols in sufficient quantities can impact blood sugar and stimulate an insulin response that can stop fat release in its tracks. If your goal involves leanness or fat reduction, bars (on a daily basis) are not ideal. They can act as a substitute for a meal when they are the best substitute available, but a powder or pre-made shake is a better choice. Real food is the best of all, as long as it's the right type and the right quantity, and it's convenient enough that you can stick to your plan. If you're on a fat-loss diet and workout program, you should be eating at least 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. Protein bars like the ones listed below may be exactly what you are looking for. In the past few years, protein bar manufacturers have taken taste to all new levels. Many bars today taste better than a candy bar! You will look forward to eating them, and at the same time you will be getting the nutrition that you need. Choose one of the popular bars that are listed below if you are worried about taste...the ones that people buy and recommend most usually are the ones that taste the best! Protein bars are formulated to be the perfect meal, all wrapped up in a quick and easy bar. It is easy to take them with you to work or school or anywhere that you need to get your protein or satisfy your hunger in a healthy way. The key is to choose the amount of carbs and protein that's best for your goals and to balance out the rest of your regular diet. I used to sell protein bars, but I found that there was no way I could compete with bodybuilding.com because they have the widest selection, the lowest price anywhere, and fast, cheap shipping. So which bar is right for you? If you are trying to lose fat, you will most likely want a lower carb, lower calorie bar. The extra protein will help you keep your current muscle mass. This bar fits the bill, and is my recommendation for many dieters, especially smaller men and women: All have 180-190 Calories, 20 grams of protein, and no sugar. Each has 380 Calories, 42g protein, and 37g carbs. If you are simply trying to find a quick meal replacement/protein supplement, a protein bar with medium carbs and medium calories would most likely be for you. These bars tend to work well for males and for males and females who are very active, whereas the Optimum Diet bars are usually better for females or smaller males who need fewer calories as a general rule. The bars contain about 270 calories, 30g protein, and 22g carbs. If you had all day to cook, prepare, and eat nutritious food, 3-6 healthy, well-balanced meals per day wouldn't be a problem--but few people have that option. If a nutritious meal isn't feasible, a protein supplement in the form of protein powder can be an ideal substitute. Be careful of ingredient labels that give a trademarked name to a "proprietary blend" of ingredients. This allows the protein supplement manufacturer to group the ingredients together within parenthesis and make it appear that this blend is in fact superior. In reality this allows them to take an ingredient within the blend that might be included only in tiny amounts and list it first on the label, creating the illusion that this is the most abundant ingredient within the package. This can disguise the true quality of the blend of proteins, misleading you into thinking you're consuming more of a particular type of protein. But which types do you want? Keep reading to learn who should choose whey protein and who should choose casein or other proteins. Which types of protein powder are best? It depends on your purpose. Whey protein is absorbed very quickly, making it a better choice post-workout or for those eating protein six times per day for muscle building purposes. While it provides a quick amino-acid blast, the protein won't stay with you long, making it a poor choice if you only consume protein three times per day (Tip: if you mix whey with milk or with caesin powder, it slows down the absorption rate, which makes it a great choice for fat loss similar to straight caesin). Whey is generally the least expensive protein supplement. Whey protein can cost less than $0.50 per serving, making it much cheaper calorie-for-calorie than other protein sources like chicken or meat. Each scoop of protein contains just 110 calories, 3g carbs, and a whopping 23g protein. If you are trying to lose fat, you will most likely want a protein that absorbs slowly (such as casein) since you will be eating fewer calories and you won't always have food in your stomach. The extra time the protein from casein protein powder takes to release will help you retain your muscle mass while dieting. Protein powders are lower in calories than protein bars protein-gram for protein-gram, making them ideal for fat loss. This is the least expensive high-quality casein product: Each scoop of slow-absorbing protein contains 120 calories, 4g carbs, and 22g protein. Remember, real protein-containing foods work perfectly well for your protein intake--but if you're not getting the recommended 1 gram per pound of bodyweight every day, you will benefit from a protein supplement. When choosing your protein supplement, make sure you keep your personal goals and personal preferences in mind. If you aren't sure which protein supplement, if any, would benefit you,
contact us with your protein supplement questions.
Good luck! Be sure to experiment with a number of different products and flavors to find one that really suits you.
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