Are protein shakes good for your diet?: Losing weight can be the toughest thing to achieve ever. Some experts are of the opinion that drinking protein shake about 20 minutes before a meal can help you lose weight and can also preserve muscle mass. Contrary to what protein shakes promise to achieve, there are some who believe that it is not ascertained to be true.
How to use protein shakes for weight loss? : Staunch believers of protein shakes are of the opinion that such products can cut appetite or one’s desire to eat before meals. It is also reported that taking protein shakes before breakfast and before dinner can help in losing weight and maintaining muscle mass much effectively than otherwise.
How Do Protein Shakes Help in Losing Weight?
Experts explain that “protein shakes” work like tiny blood sugar capsules that are released in intervals in order to maintain the blood sugar levels. This in turn helps in decreasing one’s appetite and/or desire to eat more.
Researchers are further trying to break ground in finding out ways by which people eat less and lose more weight. The Whey Protein Shake when taken before meals can help, say some experts.
Can Protein Shakes Make Losing Weight Difficult?
Some experts are of the opinion that protein shakes can make losing weight even difficult that otherwise thought. For example, most protein shakes and/or mixes get their protein from soy (reduces the amount of fat stored by the body and also contributes in increasing the muscle size and mass). Other protein shakes can have a dairy or egg base. Some say that protein shakes, after all, contain proteins which when taken in excess can cause you to gain weight instead of losing weight.
So even though protein shakes aren’t too harmful, they should be not depended upon to keep the weight off permanently.
2 positive changes to implement quick weight loss are:
- Checking your intake of calories
- Burning the extra calories with the help of physical activity and exercise
Under such circumstances, the intake of proteins in the form of snacks is considered to be ideal and can help in checking your hunger pangs that can ultimately keep you full and satisfied for longer hours.
Most experts opine that protein shakes should be taken occasionally as a meal supplement, with some amount of added minerals and vitamins. In such cases, protein shakes work better than skipping meals completely.
In fact, experts also give a warning against the protein shakes available today which promise to contain the essential nutrients but do not in reality. Instead, they cannot at any cost replace the benefits of fruits and vegetables.
It is reported that an average adult requires as much as 46 to 56g of proteins in a day. So as long you are sticking to a healthy diet and exercise and/or fitness regime, the intake of additional amounts of protein in the form protein shakes is really uncalled for.
Some Sample Protein Shake Recipes:
Chocolate Banana Shake:
The ingredients are 6-8 ounces of water, 2 scoops of powdered chocolate protein, 8 fresh strawberries and 6 cubes of ice. Mix these ingredients in a blender for 1 minute on medium and pour into a long glass.
Pineapple Blast:
The ingredients are 12 ounces of water, 2 scoops of powdered vanilla protein, 1/2 cup of pineapple chunks and 4 cubes of ice. Mix these ingredients in a blender for 1 minute on medium and pour into a long glass.
German Chocolate Cake:
The ingredients are 12 ounces of water, 2 scoops of powdered chocolate protein, 1 tablespoon each of coconut cream and heavy cream and 4 ice cubes. Mix these ingredients in a blender for 1 minute on medium and pour into a long glass.
Power Fudge: Vanilla or Chocolate:
The ingredients are 3-4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream and 1 scoop of either powdered chocolate or vanilla protein. The ingredients to be mixed until they reach consistency of cake icing and are to be frozen or refrigerated.
