Protein powders, most often made up of whey protein, have been around for years, but they are currently gaining popularity and becoming more widely used for their health benefits. The powder is often made from the milk of a cow and contains compositions of protein. Both women and men can receive great benefits from supplementing a diet with protein, including recovery after intense exercise, weight loss and a better performance on the athletic field. Be sure that you check in with your doctor before starting a protein-supplement program to ensure that it is right for you.
Better Sports Performance
Since athletes burn more proteins during intense physical activity, they need to replenish the levels of proteins in their bodies quickly. Since whey protein is a rapidly absorbed source of branched-chain amino acids, it is absorbed directly into your muscle tissue to be available for use quickly. Powdered whey protein is easy to digest and is quickly able to nourish your muscles following intense exercise.
Muscle Growth
Bodybuilders, both men and women, were some of the first athletes to begin using protein supplements, probably because they noticed that it promotes faster muscle healing following exercise and enhances muscle growth. According to the Whey Protein Institute, protein powder contains a high level of leucine, a protein that cannot be manufactured by the human body. Leucine is a critical protein in muscular healing and growth. Supplementing your diet with protein powder can result in faster muscle healing and growth.
Fat Loss
Many women are concerned about the fat levels on their bodies because women naturally retain more fat than men. By taking powdered protein supplements, women are able to slow the deposits of fat on their bodies while simultaneously improving the amount of lean muscle available. Since your body burns more energy breaking down protein, supplementing your diet with high levels of protein means your body is going to burn more calories. A 2003 study by Dr. Donald Layman at the University of Illinois found that people of similar body types lost weight at about the same rate, but study participants who supplemented their diets with protein powder "lost more body fat and less muscle than the control group."
Healthy Aging
In today's appearance-conscious society it is often about how your look. No one feels the pressure to look young and healthy like women. As women age, the skin begins to sag, muscle is lost and fat levels go up. By taking protein powder supplements, you can slow down the degeneration of muscle and keep your muscles strong. Since some of the proteins found in protein powder are difficult to come by in large quantity naturally, taking a protein powder can help eliminate muscle loss and even help keep your bones strong, according to a study published by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.
Adult Onset Diabetes
Adult onset diabetes, or Type 2 diabetes, is growing at an alarming rate. With high-fat, low-nutrient diets, many older adults are becoming bound to prescription drugs to help control the condition. By supplementing your diet with high-quality proteins, you can get the benefits of eating a lot of protein like muscle growth and fat loss, without eating a lot of foods high in fat and calories. Whey protein has also been shown to help lower insulin levels and slow the absorption of sugars in your bloodstream.
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