If you’re entertaining the need for more protein in your diet, this blog post is definitely for you! Taking a protein powder supplement is by far the easiest way to increase your overall protein intake. First off, eating enough protein is important for your overall health and wellbeing. Secondly, protein helps you feel good because it plays very important functions in the body’s tissues and organs, including the formation of amino acids. While I don’t think you need to meticulously track daily intake, I reckon we could all use a few extra tips on how we can get more protein in our diets through supplementation.
How much protein should you have?
How much protein you should consume on a daily basis will depend on your age, gender, weight and activity level. The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of bodyweight. I’ve also seen numbers of 0.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight. This depends on your activity. If you’re active, still growing or if you’re pregnant, you will definitely need more protein than that. It’s likely safe to say that you want to be eating about 10-20 grams of protein at every meal/snack, but always check with a nutritionist, or GP, if you have some concerns. Many of my athletic gym-going friends try to consume higher levels of protein, up to their bodyweight in grams/day. To be honest, you don’t need to stress about the exact numbers. Simply aim to have a balanced mindset and be as consistent as possible with eating protein-rich meals each day. If that’s a challenge, you can use a protein supplement – as the title of this post suggests 🙂
Use protein powder to increase your protein intake
Before we get into the protein powder tips, let me remind you that the best way to get most of the nutrients you need each day is to eat quality whole foods and quality organic or grass-fed meats, if you can. After you’ve made those amazing food choices, I recommend you consider supplementation! It’s a fail-proof way to support or enhance what you’re already eating. For me, that’s where protein powder comes in, and it helps me reach my loose protein targets each day. I’ve been using protein powder in my diet for about 20 years now, and I’ve tried so many brands over the years. You just have to read your labels and watch for some not-so-gut-friendly ingredients that are sneaking into some well-known and trusted brands, such as maltodextrin and fructose.
The easiest ways to use protein powder to increase your overall protein intake are:
1. Add a protein shake when you wake-up in the morning
Protein shakes are the easiest and simplest protein-rich supplement around, and you don’t just have to drink them alone and after a workout. You can have one first thing in the morning. In fact, I was given this tip from my personal trainer, and bodybuilder, who said to just wake-up and have a protein shake right away as you’re preparing your morning coffee. What an easy adjustment that takes 2 minutes, while you’re waiting for the tea kettle to boil or coffee to brew, right?
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