While first starting their fitness journeys with goals of fat loss or muscle building, many beginners tend to believe that what counts the most is the effort put in the gym. And although feeling tired after a workout might seem rewarding, this is only part of the equation to reaching our fitness goals. The most crucial components for both fat loss and muscle building is recovery and one of the key components is protein intake. Protein is the building block of muscle and it aids muscle hypertrophy and recovery. With many amazing protein powders on the market, it is possible to achieve optimal daily protein intake and reach your goals faster. Here are a few amazing benefits of using protein powders which keep you fit and healthy.
Improve muscle growth
There is no better match than between resistance training and protein supplementation. This is due to the effect of muscle protein synthesis which is optimized through the use of whey protein powder since protein is responsible for repairing the micro tears in muscle fibers caused by lifting weights. Whey is a full of rich amino-acids and it is considered to have a branched-chain acid called leucin which is the most anabolic type, which means that it has the best effect on muscle growth.
Lose fat while building muscle
Losing fat is already significantly difficult with all of its mental and physical aspects, however, building muscle while losing fat is even more challenging. But it doesn’t need to be if you consider the importance of proper protein intake in this scenario. Generally, it is considered that a person needs at least 1.6g of protein per kilogram of bodyweight, or 0.7g/lb in order to build muscle while in a caloric surplus. However, this requirement is higher when trying to achieve the same muscle building effect while trying to lose weight in a caloric deficit. With the range of 1.8 – 2.7g per kilogram of bodyweight or 0.8-1.2g/lb. This is because the body is trying to burn the calories and when there is very little fat left, like when preparing for the couple final weeks before a bodybuilding show you will need more protein in order to prevent burning muscle as well. This is why getting a protein supplement is a great way to ensure that you are meeting your daily protein requirements in order to reach your goals.
Recover more easily
Recovery comes from repairing damaged tissues after training. This is a process called muscle hypertrophy commonly known as muscle growth and it occurs while resting, however, just sleeping in bed won’t do it. You need the proper nutrition in order to recover properly, and protein ends up being the number one aspect of it. In addition, higher protein intake is conducive to healing from injuries, since it aids the building of soft tissue and reduces the inflammation response.
Make dieting easier
Dieting is a quite challenging aspect of staying fit, especially when trying to lose a lot of weight. It can seem really overwhelming trying to stave off hunger when on a calorie restriction diet. Adding extra protein at breakfast helps you to feel more satiated throughout the day which is great for optimizing your fat loss journey. This is because protein takes more time to digest than carbohydrates do, which suppresses appetite. In addition to this, you are getting most of out the very limited number of calories that you get to consume, while staying full and happy. This can easily be done by mixing your favorite protein powder flavor to your breakfast meal such as an oatmeal or protein powder pancakes.
Lower blood pressure
Having high blood pressure is the main risk factor for heart disease. One of the key steps in reducing blood pressure is the consumption of dairy products. This is due to the fact that dairy contains valuable bioactive peptides called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors). Whey protein usually contains ACE inhibitors called lactokinins, which have been found to reduce blood pressure in individuals who are already suffering from high blood pressure. So, consider using whey protein supplements if you are at risk at want to stay healthy.
A fitness journey comes riddled with many challenges however most of the problems seem to revolve around having a good nutrition plan, and there is no macronutrient more valuable than protein. That is why consuming your favorite protein supplement comes along with amazing health benefits as well, such as; improving muscle protein synthesis and muscle growth, losing fat while building muscle at the same time, recovering more easily while preventing injuries, bringing more joy and ease to dieting, and lowering blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.