Whether or not you like to carry weights, run for miles, or play an off-the-cuff sport of pick-up basketball, you won’t suppose twice about downing a protein shake after a tough exercise. In any case, they pack a hearty dose of that muscle-building macro. In order that mechanically makes them a wholesome selection…proper?
Sadly, the query “Are protein shakes good for you?” can’t actually be answered with a simple “sure” or “no.” Everyone seems to be completely different—and so is each number of protein shake—so we are able to’t say for certain that anybody is or isn’t good for you particularly. In the end, it depends upon a bunch of various components, together with your diet and health targets, the elements within the shake, and the way your system reacts to them.
That stated, it’s nonetheless doable to attract some broad conclusions in regards to the general well being advantages of protein shakes (and their potential drawbacks). To get the lowdown, SELF reached out to a couple sports activities dietitians to look at the problem. Learn on to learn how all of it shakes out.
So what are the dietary advantages of protein shakes?
Clearly, these drinks are a handy approach to soak up plenty of their namesake nutrient: protein. The truth is, one shake ought to actually comprise not less than 20 grams of protein, Jessica Isaacs, RD, CSSD, a sports activities dietitian who focuses on efficiency diet for elite athletes, tells SELF. “Any lower than that, then I wouldn’t actually qualify it as a protein shake,” she says. Sure, protein helps construct muscle mass (and permits the tissue to restore from the tiny tears attributable to train), nevertheless it’s additionally concerned in a bunch of different integral processes, like forming blood cells and supporting immune well being. Shakes which can be whey protein-based, soy protein-based, or pea protein-based “are going to be the very best sources,” Isaacs says.
What’s extra, shakes could be the most sensible automobile for this relying in your circumstances and protein wants. For one, they might be simpler to get down after a tough exercise than meals sources, since intense train is thought to sap your urge for food. Moreover, they don’t require you to prepare dinner or sit down for a meal—you possibly can simply seize and go. This makes them tremendous handy for busy days or whenever you “simply don’t have the urge for food for an enormous piece of rooster,” Isaacs says. Plus, because of their liquid content material, they’ll assist rehydrate you by changing the fluids you misplaced throughout train.
