Your Health

Protein Powder Benefits: Your Ultimate Guide

women using protein powder in a shake to support her post-workout recovery

Protein powder has never been more popular; a decade ago, consuming a post-workout protein shake was an act undertaken primarily by bodybuilders and professional athletes; today, the majority of gym-goers choose to supplement their workouts by consuming protein powder.

 

The post-exercise protein hit has become something many of us do without fully understanding the benefits; we know it’s good for us, but why exactly? Why is using protein powder beneficial? Can the same results be achieved by following a high-protein diet?

 

eggs, nuts and seeds, which are all good sources of protein

 

At Garden of Life, we believe that extraordinary ingredients and nutrition empower extraordinary health, which means you need to understand exactly what you’re putting into your body in order to experience the best possible results.

 

What are the benefits of protein?

Protein plays an essential role in supporting the growth and ongoing maintenance of bone, muscle and skin. Protein is also important in the production of hormones, enzymes and other chemicals to keep the body functioning properly.

 

Muscle repair

 

The main reason why consuming protein is important after exercise is because it aids muscle recovery, helping to repair damaged muscle and tissue.

 

Protein is believed to help reduce muscle soreness following strength and resistance training, and it also increases muscle mass, which is why protein powder has long been used by bodybuilders and professional athletes wanting to bulk up.

Weight management

 

Protein is well-known for its filling power, helping you to feel fuller for longer than other food groups. As a result, protein powder and other sources of protein can play an important role in weight management, potentially boosting your metabolism in the long run.

Sleep quality

 

Eating a high-protein meal or consuming a protein shake in the evenings may also help to improve the quality of your sleep. By making sure you’re properly full before you go to bed, you’re less likely to be disturbed during the night by cravings, and your energy levels the following morning should be higher.

Increasing your protein intake: what you need to know

 

Upping your protein intake helps to build your muscle mass, which is why so many athletes and fitness enthusiasts choose to follow-up their workouts with protein shakes.

 

Consistent protein consumption is key to increasing your muscle mass over time. Foods with a high protein content that can help you with this include:

 

  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Cottage cheese
  • Greek yoghurt
  • Almonds

 

However, if you’re vegan or vegetarian, it can be more difficult to find adequate protein sources to support you in building muscle – especially if you’re dairy-free and therefore unable to use whey protein.

 

This is where Garden of Life’s vegan protein powders come in, providing you with essential nutrition for increasing your muscle mass, even if you’re following a plant-based lifestyle.

 

What’s different about Garden of Life protein powder?

 

Protein powder can provide an easier, quicker and more cost-effective way for people to significantly increase their protein intake than eating lots more chicken and eggs – and Garden of Life’s protein powders are an ideal option for vegetarians and vegans.

 

All of our protein powders are made from a carefully chosen blend of organic ingredients – we’re extremely proud that we’re able to trace every single one of our ingredients right back to the seed or soil it came from through the network of approved farmers we work with closely.

 

Our organic protein is also gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free and 100% vegan, and contains the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K; vitamin D especially is associated with maintaining normal immune system function, meaning our protein powders can play a key role in keeping your body healthy.

 

Our protein powders contain essential amino acids too, which can help with muscle maintenance and repair. We refer to our protein powders as ‘raw’, as low temperatures are used throughout our production process to retain the integrity of the amino acids – using too much heat in this process can affect the protein’s overall quality.

How to use protein powder

 

Protein shakes are one of the most common ways that protein powder is used; adding just one scoop of your organic protein powder to plant-based milk makes a simple protein shake – with Garden of Life’s protein powders, you can choose from a delicious vanilla or chocolate-flavoured shake.

 

Protein smoothies are a great alternative, and a perfect breakfast for after a morning workout. Cooking or baking with protein powder is another option for increasing your protein consumption, with so many tasty options from protein brownies to protein pancakes – a brilliant post-workout recovery breakfast.

 



Garden of Life

Garden of Life

Writer and expert