It can be extremely confusing for a beginner to work out exactly what they need. Protein drinks consist of a protein powder such as whey protein mixed with either water or milk into a ‘shake’ you can also get protein drinks that are ready to drink from the carton.
The point of this is to consume extra protein to aid in building and repairing muscle tissue after strenuous exercise such as weight lifting and most fitness related activities.
Shop for whey protein: SuperFit | PhD Fitness | Discount Supplements | Holland & Barrett
The benefits of protein drinks
There are many benefits of having protein drinks, proteins are the building blocks of the body so they help to repair tissue and rebuild muscle. Everyone who trains at the gym should be supplementing their diet with protein drinks to consume enough t increase their muscle capacity. A protein deficiency will lead to muscle breakdown and this can have mean you actually lose muscle mass instead of gaining it.
The reccomended protein intake for anyone training to gain muscle is roughly 1.5g of protein per lb of body weight. For more information you can see our guides on building Muscle and why we need protein.
The main benefits are:
- Protein drinks are convenient
- Extremely cheap
- Help to build and maintain muscle mass
- Help to speed up recovery
- Maintain a healthy and fit body
- It can help you lose weight
Shop for whey protein: SuperFit | PhD Fitness | Discount Supplements | Holland & Barrett
Which protein drinks
There’s a lot of choice and as with everything, some are better than others. The most popular brands are Maximuscle, Reflex and Optimum Nutrition. All 3 have superior products and are very well priced.Personally I use reflex instant whey and would recommend it to everyone if you havn’t already tried it.
When to consume protein drinks
The time can vary, depends on your goals and lifestyle. The most common practice is to consume a whey protein drink immediately after a work out to replenish the bodies protein supply. This will also minimize the breakdown of your muscles and help your recovery time to be much less. Some people drink them in the morning first thing, this is because the body has been starved of protein throughout the night and will be craving the nutrients it needs to build muscle and repair tissue.
You can mix the protein powder with either water or milk to make your protein drinks. Water is best if you are calorie counting and will help to speed up the absorption of protein. Milk has the opposite effect, it adds extra calories and slows down the absorption, both have their advantages. We recommend taking your protein drink with water first thing in the morning and after training and your night time shake before bed with milk. You can further supplement your night time protein drink with casein protein to keep your body from starving itself of nutrients.
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