Are protein shakes considered supplements?
rawroy
Posts: 106 Member
I've been an avid promoter of not taking supplements to show "it's not necessary" and it saves me money! I do not buy protein powders, take diet pills, vitamin pills, or anything bodybuilders typically use, promote and sell for profit. I've been getting all of my nutrition from eating my vegetables and will blend up smoothies using raw veggies too.
However, I've been curious about trying out some protein powders to see what kind of benefits, if any, they will have for me besides time in building more muscle but this would go against my "no supplements rule" and trust me, I will get so much smack talk from my friends who subscribe to all kinds of diets and supplements. Whenever I see someone getting fit on their own but then, start to promote and sell products, this just changes my entire mindset that they are just doing it for the $$$ now and I don't want to come off like that because I really do stay in shape without requiring supplements.
So, my question is, am I right or wrong that protein powders are considered supplements?
However, I've been curious about trying out some protein powders to see what kind of benefits, if any, they will have for me besides time in building more muscle but this would go against my "no supplements rule" and trust me, I will get so much smack talk from my friends who subscribe to all kinds of diets and supplements. Whenever I see someone getting fit on their own but then, start to promote and sell products, this just changes my entire mindset that they are just doing it for the $$$ now and I don't want to come off like that because I really do stay in shape without requiring supplements.
So, my question is, am I right or wrong that protein powders are considered supplements?
3
Replies
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I just consider it food. It's powdered milk really.
I do use it to supplement my diet though so hmmm
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It's a supplement in about the same way a chicken breast would be considered a supplement. It's a food source which happens to have a lot of protein.
But of course it all depends on what your subjective definition of "supplement" is. It's about as vague and nebulous as defining "clean eating".7 -
I wouldn't call protein powder a supplement. Taking it doesn't 'enhance' anything for me, it simply helps me reach my protein goal everyday.6
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This is the inherent problem with labeling. It's a trade off of convenience. I use protein powder as it is convenient, easy, low calorie, and specifically helps me hit my protein intake goals. Sure I could do the same with lean beef or chicken breasts, but this adds variety and easily transportable.4
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Thank you all for the feedback! When I think about it more, I agree with you all and don't consider it a supplement if it's just a meal without any unnatural performance enhancing ingredients in liquid form. I think the issue for me is always trying to keep cost low and not wanting to be labeled or promote any unnatural products. I used to buy all kinds of products like my friends did many years ago and switched to plant based 3 years ago and now they doubt I'm not doing anything else but now I want to get bigger and I know as soon as I even consider adding protein powder, I have to start hearing "I knew it"! What else are you doing!1
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I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.6 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.1 -
Thank you all for the feedback! When I think about it more, I agree with you all and don't consider it a supplement if it's just a meal without any unnatural performance enhancing ingredients in liquid form. I think the issue for me is always trying to keep cost low and not wanting to be labeled or promote any unnatural products. I used to buy all kinds of products like my friends did many years ago and switched to plant based 3 years ago and now they doubt I'm not doing anything else but now I want to get bigger and I know as soon as I even consider adding protein powder, I have to start hearing "I knew it"! What else are you doing!
protein powder can help you get more protein in but to get bigger you need a surplus of calories and a heavy progressive lifting program. protein alone wont cause muscles to grow.Oh and who cares what others think? you do you and let them do them.if you want to use protein powder then go ahead2 -
Yeah protein powders are supplements.
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/all_about_protein.htm
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/difference-between-protein-shakes-supplements-6787.html2 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?3 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?
Exactly. I don't consider these supplements as they are naturally occurring amino acids.0 -
I'd say they are a supplement. What you can get from whole foods, but don't and SUPPLEMENT it to meet those goals...................well is a supplement.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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As an aside, you might look at this as a lesson in the pitfalls of painting yourself into an ideological corner. When it comes to most subjects--dietary, political, etc--there are few black/white situations. Most of our issues are not binary--they exist on a continuum and each person picks the point on the line where they feel most comfortable. One point is not necessarily better or superior to another-they are just different.
Except for cleanses. Those are all bad.11 -
As an aside, you might look at this as a lesson in the pitfalls of painting yourself into an ideological corner. When it comes to most subjects--dietary, political, etc--there are few black/white situations. Most of our issues are not binary--they exist on a continuum and each person picks the point on the line where they feel most comfortable. One point is not necessarily better or superior to another-they are just different.
Except for cleanses. Those are all bad.
Thought your wrote "Except for CLEANLINESS"....had to re-read...I was like "WHAT?!?!" LOL And I agree. There is no perfect answer that fits all people exactly the right way. Constant adjustment and reassessment is necessary for pretty much everyone.1 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?
This is the one I'm trying and it looks natural to me...
0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »I wouldn't call protein powder a supplement. Taking it doesn't 'enhance' anything for me, it simply helps me reach my protein goal everyday.
So you "supplement" your protein goal with protein powder, but protein powder isn't a supplement?
verb
ˈsʌplɪmɛnt,sʌplɪˈmɛnt/
1.
add an extra element or amount to.
"she took the protein powder to supplement her protein intake"
synonyms: augment, increase, add to, boost, swell, amplify, enlarge, make larger/bigger/greater; top up, round off, complete; widen, broaden, expand.
Protein powder when taken for dietary reasons, and not to paint the garden fence with, is a dietary supplement.2 -
Christine_72 wrote: »I wouldn't call protein powder a supplement. Taking it doesn't 'enhance' anything for me, it simply helps me reach my protein goal everyday.
So you "supplement" your protein goal with protein powder, but protein powder isn't a supplement?
verb
ˈsʌplɪmɛnt,sʌplɪˈmɛnt/
1.
add an extra element or amount to.
"she took the protein powder to supplement her protein intake"
synonyms: augment, increase, add to, boost, swell, amplify, enlarge, make larger/bigger/greater; top up, round off, complete; widen, broaden, expand.
Protein powder when taken for dietary reasons, and not to paint the garden fence with, is a dietary supplement.
By this definition, so is chicken, and broccoli, and potatoes, and well, anything else you put in your face. Hence, the whole thing is pointless.6 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »I wouldn't call protein powder a supplement. Taking it doesn't 'enhance' anything for me, it simply helps me reach my protein goal everyday.
So you "supplement" your protein goal with protein powder, but protein powder isn't a supplement?
verb
ˈsʌplɪmɛnt,sʌplɪˈmɛnt/
1.
add an extra element or amount to.
"she took the protein powder to supplement her protein intake"
synonyms: augment, increase, add to, boost, swell, amplify, enlarge, make larger/bigger/greater; top up, round off, complete; widen, broaden, expand.
Protein powder when taken for dietary reasons, and not to paint the garden fence with, is a dietary supplement.
By this definition, so is chicken, and broccoli, and potatoes, and well, anything else you put in your face. Hence, the whole thing is pointless.
It's all semantics of course, but I'd say they were the core dietary items that are being supplemented with the protein powder.
I buy protein powder to supplement the core items of my diet, so the protein powder supplements the chicken, potatoes, broccoli etc.
However, I'm sure if your core dietary component was protein powder and you had a chicken breast or two a day, it'd be the chicken breast in the role of supplement.
But in most cases I'd wager protein powder is being used to supplement other things.2 -
Maybe it should be called a substitute or replacement because basically, it's taken as a meal replacement as opposed to eating that much food right? At least it seems like most people use it as a meal replacement for the convenience and nutritional benefits. Aside from the caffeinated, hormonal, performance enhancing or unnatural preservatives and additives that some contain. I guess it's hard to get all the nutritional value too so it does have supplemental vitamins and nutrients we all don't normally eat to obtain. That's a good thing.0
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VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?
This is the one I'm trying and it looks natural to me...
Plant based proteins have some of the same naturally occurring essential amino acids as wheys. It really doesn't matter if the protein is coming from soy, whey, beef, peas, quinoa....if it has protein...it has amino acids. leucine and valine are just two of the essential amino acids. found in all types of plants and animals that are consumed by humans. In my opinion no different than the zinc, chromium, copper, and other minerals that are naturally occurring and in the label you posted.
I mean we might be splitting hairs at this point.
https://healthaliciousness.com/articles/high-valine-foods.php
0 -
Maybe it should be called a substitute or replacement because basically, it's taken as a meal replacement as opposed to eating that much food right? At least it seems like most people use it as a meal replacement for the convenience and nutritional benefits. Aside from the caffeinated, hormonal, performance enhancing or unnatural preservatives and additives that some contain. I guess it's hard to get all the nutritional value too so it does have supplemental vitamins and nutrients we all don't normally eat to obtain. That's a good thing.
My protein powders I've used are about 100 calories each serving. That isn't in any way shape or form a meal replacement.0 -
Gallowmere1984 wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »I wouldn't call protein powder a supplement. Taking it doesn't 'enhance' anything for me, it simply helps me reach my protein goal everyday.
So you "supplement" your protein goal with protein powder, but protein powder isn't a supplement?
verb
ˈsʌplɪmɛnt,sʌplɪˈmɛnt/
1.
add an extra element or amount to.
"she took the protein powder to supplement her protein intake"
synonyms: augment, increase, add to, boost, swell, amplify, enlarge, make larger/bigger/greater; top up, round off, complete; widen, broaden, expand.
Protein powder when taken for dietary reasons, and not to paint the garden fence with, is a dietary supplement.
By this definition, so is chicken, and broccoli, and potatoes, and well, anything else you put in your face. Hence, the whole thing is pointless.
It's all semantics of course, but I'd say they were the core dietary items that are being supplemented with the protein powder.
I buy protein powder to supplement the core items of my diet, so the protein powder supplements the chicken, potatoes, broccoli etc.
However, I'm sure if your core dietary component was protein powder and you had a chicken breast or two a day, it'd be the chicken breast in the role of supplement.
But in most cases I'd wager protein powder is being used to supplement other things.
I like to fit protein shakes or bars into my daily calories as part of my meals (just like chicken or broccoli) or as a dessert. Some shakes and bars taste so good that I can cut out actual sweets without feeling deprived and still meet calories goals. As a bonus I get protein.2 -
Maybe it should be called a substitute or replacement because basically, it's taken as a meal replacement as opposed to eating that much food right? At least it seems like most people use it as a meal replacement for the convenience and nutritional benefits. Aside from the caffeinated, hormonal, performance enhancing or unnatural preservatives and additives that some contain. I guess it's hard to get all the nutritional value too so it does have supplemental vitamins and nutrients we all don't normally eat to obtain. That's a good thing.
nope,I dont use it as a meal replacement I use it to help get extra protein in because there is only so much meat and other protein foods I can eat per day.Im not a big meat/bean eater4 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?
This is the one I'm trying and it looks natural to me...
The nutritional information about the protein power you're going to take is titled "Supplement Facts" in big bold black letters, but you want to argue that it's not a supplement...
Do you think it means that the facts are supplementary to the other facts already provided?0 -
VintageFeline wrote: »I mean. Most people use it to supplement their protein needs in an easy convenient way. Especially if your calorie and protein needs are high, pretty easy to just chug down a shake.
But I wouldn't put it in the same class as say creatine or BCAAs.
Most protein powders have some element of BCAA's in them. And it's promoted on the labels as BCAA's are found in most protein sources i.e. chicken, beef, protein wheys, etc.
Curious - can you point to any specific protein shake that doesn't have leucine, isoleucine and valine in it?
This is the one I'm trying and it looks natural to me...
The nutritional information about the protein power you're going to take is titled "Supplement Facts" in big bold black letters, but you want to argue that it's not a supplement...
Do you think it means that the facts are supplementary to the other facts already provided?
Who's arguing? I wasn't sure and I've been going back and forth on whether it is or isn't like others. I've reached my own conclusion with all the different contributions here.0 -
Did you conclude that it was a supplement because the manufacturer sells and markets it as a supplement, in accordance with FDA guidelines?1
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I would consider it a supplement as it is generally used to supplement protein intake to hit loftier targets. Just as I would consider fish oil to be a supplement for someone who doesn't eat a lot of fish or is vegan, etc. I'm vitamin D deficient and I supplement with vitamin D to rectify that
I don't think supplementation always means that it's something inherently unnatural...supplements are used for things you are deficient in in many cases...they are also used as performance enhancers in other cases and there's a pretty wide net over the term supplement.
I would definitely consider protein powder to be a dietary supplement.5 -
@VintageFeline what protein powder do you use that's 100 cal? Is it flavored?1
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veronicav0502 wrote: »@VintageFeline what protein powder do you use that's 100 cal? Is it flavored?
I've only used two but if there's nothing added then they're all much of a muchness as far as I know calories wise. I'm also in the UK so the second one may not be available where you are. I have used MyProtein (vanilla) and Muscle Food (cappuccino and a chocolate one).1
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