Do our bodies really need protein powder or protein supplements?
Our bodies absolutely need protein to survive, especially if you are physically active. While protein powders are a good supplement for meat and other forms of protein, we have to be careful about what is in our protein powder. Some protein powder has a lot of added sugars, artificial sweeteners and flavors, and additives like caffeine and creatine. We want to make sure we pay close attention to what is inside our protein because some are more processed than others.
However, protein powder is not a must for our bodies because protein is easily attainable from natural sources. Some natural resources include eggs, chicken breast, fish, beans, milk, cottage cheese, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Athletes typically rely on protein powder because they need to consume more protein and it is convenient as a fast and easy source of protein. It is recommended that people who are physically active have anywhere from 0.54 to 0.91 grams per pound of body weight every day. It is very important to carefully time your protein intake before and after you workout in order to maximize muscle recovery.
If you can get your protein from natural sources or make sure you pay very close attention to what is in your protein powder. Protein powder can be mixed with whatever you think it is good with, such as milk, water, or in a smoothie.
Always remember it is never good to take supplements you don’t need so if you can get all your necessary protein from natural sources it is recommended to not use protein powder.