Protein supplements are well known to all fans of physical activity. Athletes use them to provide the body with the right amount of protein, which they are not always able to provide with adequate food. This is to both accelerate the process of muscle tissue regeneration, but also to increase muscle mass.
Protein supplements are very popular and there are many known and less known companies on the market that can recommend them to us. Unfortunately, the market is convinced that they are irreplaceable if we train and want to achieve the intended results. Today, we will try to bring a bit closer to the subject of protein supplements, and more specifically facts and myths that are associated with them. Do you really have to drink them? And if so then when?
Are protein supplements drunk only after training?
In most cases, protein nutrients are taken after training. This way, we want to provide the body with the necessary amino acids, which in the process of regeneration are extremely important. As all of us probably know during training, muscles break up. In order to stop this process, we focus on amino acids that have an anti-catabolic effect. Protein supplements are used mainly after training, but we can introduce them on non-workout days also if in the form of food we are unable to provide the body with the right amount of protein for us. However, one important thing to remember – nutrients are not a substitute for a meal, but only a supplement. If we think that after a meal, drink a supplement and satisfy the body by providing the best, we are wrong. After training, in addition to proteins, the body also needs fat and, above all, carbohydrates, because they are the fuel for the protein to be delivered to the muscles.
What absorbs faster – protein nutrient or protein from food?
Another question that not everyone knows answers to. You cannot answer this question, however, unambiguously, because everything really depends on what protein nutrient we take. If it’s a whey protein, it’s true that it’s absorbed much faster than it is from food. If we choose other protein supplements, absorption is the same as in the case of products with protein, and even weaker. Therefore, when choosing a supplement, it’s worth paying particular attention to this aspect.
Are protein nutrients harmful to our body?
There is a lot of talk about the fact that the protein is harmful to the body, primarily by burdening the kidneys. The truth is that if we take them in the right amount, they are not dangerous to our body in any way. Each of us needs the right amount of protein. If we are not able to provide them properly with food, the protein supplement is the best we can choose to get this protein. But, if we use more than the recommended dose, because we think that the more, the better, we can expect harmful effects to our body. You should always fully listen to the recommendations given by the manufacturer, because this will give us maximum benefits and health, not a negative impact on our body.
Should a protein supplement be consumed by every athlete?
No. It’s not true that if we do not use them, we will not achieve the intended results. If the amount of protein in our daily diet is appropriate, there is no point in additionally using supplements. If we are not able to provide the right amount of protein to the body, then supplements are an excellent addition to meals, but certainly not to replace them, because it can in turn lead to shortages. If you want to focus on a healthy lifestyle, activity and the desire to gain satisfactory results, surely protein supplements are a good choice when the amount of protein in your body along with your diet is insufficient.
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