Protein shakes are a great addition to any health conscious and fitness-heavy lifestyle. The nutrient protein is vital to the human diet. This important nutrient can be found in a variety of good sources. Protein shakes are just one of these. If you have decided to add them to your diet, you may be wondering when the best time to drink protein shakes is in order to reap the most benefits. As with any diet supplement, you want to be certain you are getting your money’s worth and that it is serving a legitimate purpose in your diet. True, you can get protein from other good sources, but protein shakes are convenient and easily digested. They also can contain additional vitamins and nutrients, important in a healthy diet.
 
Protein is called a macronutrient. This term signifies that the body needs large amounts of protein when compared to micronutrients like Vitamin C or Calcium, for example. Our bodies use protein to make hormones and enzymes. Every cell in your body contains protein, and would not survive without it. Protein is also a vital component on our bones, muscles, skin, and blood. But if you are wondering about the best time to drink protein shakes, then you are most likely interested in how protein works to repair and build muscle tissue.

There is no doubt that the best time to drink protein shakes is immediately following a workout.

During a workout, particularly a strenuous strength training workout, your muscle experience trauma. Many tiny tears occur in the muscle tissue while you are exercising. This is why you feel sore the day following a good workout. These tiny tears are huge opportunities for muscle growth. As a matter of fact, it is through these tears that are muscles are given the opportunity to re-fortify themselves. This is precisely why the best time to drink protein shakes is immediately following exercise.

Protein repairs muscle tissue. When you have tiny tears in your muscles, protein comes to the rescue, patching these tears. Through this patching and repairing, your muscles become stronger and larger than before. This is the science behind muscle gain and help explains why this is the best time to drink protein shakes. A good source of protein within one hour of the muscle trauma can drastically improve and speed the muscle repair and growth process.

Protein has been an important post-workout snack source for a long time in the world of body building. However, you don’t have to be Mr. Olympia to get the benefits of a great protein shake, protein bar, or recovery drink (with, of course, high protein). Protein shakes, in particular are digested quickly by the body and dispatched to those muscles that need it the most. Because your body doesn’t store protein like it does fats, you must replenish the protein in order to maximize the efforts you put into your workouts. This is why the best time to drink protein shakes is within one hour of your workout, so your freshly traumatized muscles can get the fastest relief.

If you are looking for a great protein shake to add to your day, check out our Whey Protein Powders and also the P90X Recovery Formula, a great balance of protein, carbs, vitamins, and antioxidants, excellent for encouraging muscle repair and growth.

Whey, whey, whey, everyone is touting the benefits of whey protein. But what exactly are the benefits and what makes whey so great?
As we know, protein is a great substance, important for our bodies in everything from our muscles to our fingernails. Protein is the building block of life and is responsible for tissue growth and repair. It aids in the production of hormones, enzymes, and other substances that make our bodies efficient. It is an important component in the makeup of our muscles, skeleton, skin, and blood. Without protein, our bodies would not exist.
 
Vital in the fitness world, protein builds and repairs muscles. When we workout our muscles experience trauma and tears. Proteins are what repair those tissues and make them stronger the next time around. By patching our muscles, protein repairs and reinforces what was already there, making us stronger and possibly bigger than before. Because of the great tissue repairing power of protein, it is seen as the optimal post-workout snack. Whey protein powder, a good source of protein, then is a great supplement to a fitness regime.
 

So why should we choose whey protein powder over other forms of protein or supplements?

Whey protein is a natural source of protein that comes from cow’s milk. In its purest form, whey protein contains little to no fat, cholesterol, or lactose. In addition to the regular benefits of protein, whey protein and subsequently whey protein powder also have added benefits.

For instance, whey protein acts in the digestive system similarly to yogurt. Because of the bacteria in the protein it is seen as a natural remedy for many common digestive issues, including bowel problems and gas. Whey is also seen to be a natural immune boost, improving your body’s ability to fight infection and stay healthy.

 
Also, whey protein has the highest “biological value” (BV) of any known protein. This means that whey protein is one of the best sources of pure protein. Right up there with egg whites, whey protein is one of the best, natural ways of getting pure protein.

Whey protein can also aid in fat loss. When you consume a shake made with whey protein powder, for instance, you are typically using it as a substitution for a higher fat and higher calorie source of protein. Because of this, you are likely to decrease caloric intake and are more likely to lose weight. Also, diets high in protein are thought to decrease insulin sensitivity, reducing the body’s urge to store fat as well as reducing cravings.

When deciding to include a whey protein powder as part of your healthy diet, it is important to find one that has limited fat and calories. A good whey protein powder will contain pure protein with less additives and extra ingredients. If you’re in the market for a whey protein powder that fits these requirements and can give you the benefits of whey protein in a convenient shake, check out the whey protein powders we have, available in chocolate and vanilla.

The term “lean protein” is thrown around a lot in the diet and fitness industries. We can deduce that this means protein with little fat, but how many of us really know which cuts of meat are truly “lean” and which should be avoided?
 
Most of us would be quick to rattle off fish, chicken breasts, or egg whites when asked about lean proteins. But, there are good sources of lean protein in beef and pork. Knowing which cuts will give you maximum protein at a little expense (fat and calories) is key.

Additional Lean Proteins:

• Beef
  Eye Round
  Top Round
  Bottom Round
  Top Sirloin
  Sirloin Tips
  Lean Ground Beef (95% or more) 
• Pork
  Tenderloin
  Boneless Top Loin Chops or Roast
  Center Loin Chops

These cuts all provide premium protein with limited fat and calories.

Some good rules of thumb to remember when shopping for lean cuts of pork or beef:

• Limit marbling. A quick glance at the meat will tell you if it is high in fat. A little fat around the edges can be trimmed, but marbling through the meat will be ingested.
• Stick to cuts with “loin” or “round” in the name when in doubt. These are sources that generally have the lowest fat content.
• When in doubt, substitute ground chicken breast or turkey breast for ground beef. Be certain that the ground meat is “all white” or “all breast” meat to ensure the leanest variety.

-For cooking tips and some good marinade recipes, check out this page from North Dakota State University.
-For preparation tips and cooking methods that further cut the fat, visit Penn State’s Solution Source.

From protein shakes and bars to chicken breasts and peanut butter, look in the kitchen of any bodybuilder or weight trainer and you will see a plethora of protein sources. Because protein is so important to muscle growth and repair, athletes are always looking for great sources of protein to add to their diets or ways to purify and simplify the sources they already use. Eggology knew this and also knew the role that eggs play in the diet of many bodybuilders and athletes. In the past, when using eggs solely as a source of protein the yolks would be separated from the whites and dumped down the drain. This waste happens not only because of the cholesterol and fat in the egg yolks but also due to egg whites being the only pure protein food source.

Eggology created 100% organic egg whites in 1993 in an effort to simplify this protein source that the body building and protein conscious world were already crazy about. Since that initial launch, eggology has expanded to sell egg white scrambles for in the microwave, high protein ice cream, and other high quality treats made with 100% pure egg whites. Egg whites were already a fairly simple food, but eggology seems to have made it easier and less wasteful to harness the pure protein.
 
Check out eggology and the following protein shake recipes from our reader highproteingal:
 
Mass Building Shake
2 scoops chocolate protein powder
1/2 cup egg whites (here is where you would substitute eggology)
2 tablespoons Organic Creamy Peanut Butter
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup ice
1 oz pecan pieces (optional)
Add ingredients together and blend.

Breakfast Protein Shake
1-2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup egg whites
1/2 cup ice cubes
1/2 cup blueberries (or strawberries, raspberries, peaches)
Add ingredients and blend.

Thanks highproteingal!