What you REALLY need to know about Natural Protein Powder
The word supplement by definition means “Something that is added to something else in order to make it complete”. In terms of bodybuilding, the “something else” is your diet and the “something that is added” can be a wide range of products like creatine, beta-alanine, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), glutamine, and so on, but probably one of the most important supplement for muscle growth is protein.
Before we go into more detail on whether protein is really necessary, whether it actually works, and what the benefits are, I just want to mention that there are many different types of protein powders on the market, such as whey protein, casein protein, pea, soy, hemp, brown rice, even vegan protein powder blends and many of them contain different flavourings and sweeteners to make them taste better. Although most people are fine with additives, some don’t react very good to them and may even be intolerant or allergic. So if you find that you are irritated by most protein powders it is time for you to switch to natural protein powder. Have in mind that even though natural protein powder is free of additives, it is still important to check if the ingredients are right for you, whether you are trying to gain more lean muscle mass or you just need mass for energy purposes. The good thing about natural protein powder is that it stacks well with both everyday supplements and with the more specific supplements.
Now, let’s get one thing straight: protein powders can not replace a healthy diet and solid training. However, if your protein intake is more than 200 grams per day, it can be very hard and time-consuming to get that from solid food since it takes more time to digest and to break down the protein and also you don’t always have the time to prepare a proper meal. In this case, protein powder can make your life a lot easier.
Proteins are the building blocks of the human body. They are used for the production of muscles, but also for producing hormones, enzymes, nucleic acids, cellular messengers, and immune system. In fact, without protein, our body will not be able to create the structures that make up every cell, tissue, and organ, nor it will be able to function properly, grow, and heal itself.
One of the best times to get protein into your body is post workout. You have a critical 45 minutes window right after a long workout to refuel the muscles with the nutrients they need to recover and grow and to begin healing the “micro tears” that occur from intense muscle contraction during a workout.
Whether you are a bodybuilder or not, protein is a great addition to any nutrition program. Not only will it help you enhance tour physique and performance, but keeping a regular high protein diet can also have anti-aging effects.