The Scoop on Protein Powder!

It seems everyone is using protein powder these days however, there are some important things to keep in mind when choosing a protein powder.  Some people just pick up any old protein powder thinking it’s all the same.  This is so far from the truth.  Others do read the label, but they don’t really know what they are looking for or what to look for in a protein powder.   As a certified health coach, let me tell you the important things to look for when deciding on a protein powder.

First and foremost, are the ingredients organic.  When choosing a quality protein you really want to make sure the ingredients are organic.  You want a nice clean protein with no fillers.  The whole point of protein is to help with recovery and help reduce inflammation.

Second,  you want a plant based protein.  Plants are filled with phytonutrients which help prevent disease and also help combat inflammation.  Whey proteins contain animal byproducts.  In fact, whey protein is made from the excess liquid portion of the milk left over from the cheesemaking process.   Dairy causes inflammation so you want to avoid proteins that contain dairy and whey.

Thirdly, are there warning labels on the protein.  Why use a product that has warning labels saying it’s unsafe for certain populations of people  That’s a red flag for me and I say avoid these products.  I don’t want to use a product with warning labels and you shouldn’t use it either.

Last but not least, how long is the list of ingredients?  Less is better.  If the ingredient list is long and full of things  you cannot pronounce, or you need a Ph.D to figure out what’s in it or just to read the label, you are better off leaving it on the shelf.

Further, a lot of people think that more protein is better or you need animal protein to build muscle.  This is  false information.  As a matter of fact, our bodies can only absorb so much protein and the rest is filtered out as waste causing our kidneys to do more work.  A lot of athletes, professional and non professional are consuming way too much protein which can cause some serious health issues with long term use.  Dr. Thomas Campbell, (The China Study) states that when whey casein is consumed in large quantities cancer cells increase.  Elevated levels of protein can also cause damage to the the liver and kidneys, also cause weight gain and attribute to plaque build up in the arteries.

In conclusion, protein is the main building block of our body and it is used to make and repair muscles, tendons, joints, organs, skin as well as enzymes.   The average amount of protein needed daily for men is 56 grams and for women 46 grams.  Athletes may need higher amounts.   Some of the best food sources for protein other than meat include beans, lentils, hemp seeds, chia seeds, quinoa, soy milk, oats, oatmeal, wild rice, nuts, nut butters, and also vegetables.  Fruits have a lower protein content than vegetables, however some fruits like bananas, blackberries, nectarines and mulberries contain a higher protein count than others.

If you would like a recommendation on a high quality plant based protein powder,  feel free to message me for more info.