Are Protein Shakes Important?

vanilllie
vanilllie Posts: 2 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hello! New here, and just wondering if protein shakes are recommended for people losing weight and toning up.

Are they:
• A meal replacement?
• Something to help stimulate the growth the broken muscles from your workout?
• An appetitie suppressant?
• Help you feel better after working out?

Will it help a person achieve results faster? Or can I get buy by eating chicken/tuna and eggs?

Also, is it better to drink it before or after a work out?

Insight appreciated to understand the benefits!

Replies

  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    Depends. Protein powder mixed with water or milk is not a meal replacement to me. Protein mixed with half a banana, a bunch of spinach, almond milk, cocoa powder, and peanut butter replaces a meal for me.

    I used to drink them every day and I found they really helped with my hunger levels. Best to drink after a workout.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Protein shakes are not a meal replacement. You can make them one by adding additional things to it to bring nutritional content up.

    Protein shakes themself are not responsible for muscle growth/recovery. Adequate protein intake is. That can be from whole food or protein supplements. Protein shakes are typically used by those who can't meet their daily protein goal with food alone (for me, it was just too much food so I used protein powder to get more protein without extra food)

    Protein does help keep you full, so a protein shake can help curb appetite. Plus many are lower calorie, so it can be a snack to hold you over. I don't use protein alone as a meal.

    Protein shakes will not provide faster results. Chicken and other protein Sources are just as good, some argue better.

    For the average person, ie not an elite athlete doing multiple hard workouts per day, timing of your pre and post workout meals isn't important. Do what works for you. I like my shake after my workout because I am Usually hungry then. I can't exercise with it on my stomach. The old "you must have protein within 30 minutes of working out" is not accurate.
  • George1567
    George1567 Posts: 107
    Meal replacement: in many cases yes.
    Stimulate growth: Probably not. In a calorie deficit new muscle growth is minimal to none.
    Suppressant: Probably not. Protein will make you feel full longer than eating carbs, but would not see someone taking a protein supplement with only the motive of appetite suppression.
    Feel better after workout: It could. It is easy to take a shake with you to the gym to drink following a workout.

    For me, shakes are used because it's quick and easy. I could cook real food and end up with nearly the same nutrition results. I drink mine after a workout, but many take them prior. It pretty much up to what works for you and gets you the best workout. If I took one before it would have to be several hours before, I feel the best in the gym on an empty stomach.
  • Firefox7275
    Firefox7275 Posts: 2,040 Member
    There are numerous thread on this if you run a search. If something is not labelled a meal replacement then it is not a meal replacement, it is a supplement to a diet that should already be healthy and balanced. Powders are a convenient source of protein for many - adding to green smoothies, taking right after completing a workout when the repair and refuel enzymes are the most active or when you are super hungry! Whey is the fastest absorbed protein powder, has a good texture and generally well tolerated by the digestive system in moderate amounts so tends to be the protein of choice.

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