Protein, it’s the building block of muscle growth. It helps keep us full longer and is a major source of energy for healthy muscles. If you can, protein should come directly from your diet. Lean cuts of pork, beef and of course chicken and turkey breast are all recommended. Protein can also come from beans and legumes.
It’s recommended the average person consume 0.6-1 gram of protein per pound. For example a 140 pound person should consume anywhere from 84-140 grams of protein each day. This can be challenging for some, myself included. To help meet our protein needs we can turn to protein powders. One caveat, don’t rely on just any protein powder. Especially, if you value taste. We’ve seen them and even bought them…grocery store protein powders. They are cheaper and more readily available than going to a specialty store. The old adage rings very true when it comes to protein powders, “you get what you pay for”. They taste horrible and usually have lots of extra fillers that you don’t need, especially if you’re trying to lose weight.
A quality protein powder should taste good, be safe for your body, not have an inflated amount of sodium and be free of illegal stimulants. Unfortunately the FDA does not regulate supplements and unless you do some research you may unknowingly pick up some banned substances or increase your blood pressure due to elevated sodium levels.
My top two favorites are Optimum Nutrition and Vega. Vega is a really great vegan protein powder but it can be a bit gritty and requires frequent mixing. ON is my number 1 favorite but if I can’t get to GNC or wait for Amazon to deliver it, I can usually go to Walmart or Target and pick up some Vega, which is the only quality powder I have found at any big market place like that.
If you’d like to learn more about protein powders and find a more extensive list of quality protein visit https://www.reviews.com/protein-powder/. There is a complete breakdown on all of the highest quality powders and how they graded each one. It’s a great read if you can find the time! If you enjoyed this post drop comment below and share what protein source is your favorite!