Protein shakes may not exactly be the miracle solutions some adverts make them out to be. Drinking a protein shake is also easier, faster and more convenient than preparing your own nutrient protein packed snacks and smoothies, but there are some serious limitations when it comes to these expensive shakes especially if your sole reason is to gain muscle…
Lack of minerals
First and foremost, protein shakes are often nutritionally lacking. Most will contain approximately 20 grams of protein, 7 grams of fat and 8 grams of carbohydrates, but lacking in the antioxidants and other phytonutrients as whole foods, grains fruits and vegetables.
Secondly, protein shakes are definitely limited in what they can do for you and your body. You won’t develop more muscle mass or tone if you don’t combine regular training into your lifestyle. If you’re going to use shakes, make sure you include them as part of a diet and exercise plan that will help you reach and maintain your fitness goals for the long-term.
You paid how much?
For up to 1kg of Whey Protein Powder you’re looking at around £25 – £30, and for 2kg it’s more like £40 – £50. For that kind of money, you could be buying real food that’ll last you a whole week that’s far more nutritious and contains just as much protein.
Can they be harmful?
By supplying our bodies with excessive amounts of nitrogen protein shakes can throw everything out of balance. The body will try to eliminate the excess protein from these shakes and additional stress and work is created by our bodies. Protein supplements are also made from processed foods such as dried egg whites and powdered milk. When we eat foods in such a fragmented state they can oversupply the body with some nutrients while creating a deficiency of others.
The bottom line: protein shakes not only supply us with excessive amounts of protein but they can also disrupt the body’s nutritional balance.
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Ultimately, what we need to do is understand what protein is for and how much we actually need. Protein is literally needed for our body’s growth and tissue repair. Protein is not necessary for energy and is not a initial source of fuel.
When we exercise a lot, the body separates the nitrogenous matter from the protein molecule and uses the remaining carbon contents to produce fuel. This process places unnecessary strain on our kidneys, liver and other organs as they try to filter out and eliminate all the unusable nitrogenous waste.
What many of us fail to realise is that our bodies physically cannot store too much protein. On average, men should eat 55g and women 45g of protein a day. If you’re eating about this but also consuming high protein products such as drinks and bars, the chances that you’ll simply have too much of it are high. This will lead to you simply peeing out all the excess protein and can cause disruptions and damage to our organs.
All we need to do is merely understand our body’s true protein needs. Click here to read an interesting article on some of the other the health issues surrounding this topic.
Anna Vitality 