Protein is required for your health no matter what activities you pursue, but this nutrient can be of particular importance for bodybuilding. As nutrition researcher Dr. John Berardi explains, adequate protein intake following workouts and throughout the day is required to ensure that muscles broken down during exercise can be repaired to spur growth. With many protein sources are available, hemp protein may not be the best choice. Consult a doctor before using any supplements.
Calories
Hemp protein is not a good choice for bodybuilding, as it contains just 134 calories per serving. According to Bodybuilding.com, a bodybuilder's workout session burns 457 calories per hour, so hemp protein would not provide enough calories for recovery. To gain muscle, you need to consume a surplus of calories; if you worked out five times each week, consuming one serving of hemp protein for recovery would produce a deficit of 1,615 calories, enough to lose nearly half of a pound.
Protein
Hemp protein is not ideal for bodybuilding, as it contains 15 g of protein per serving, which is lower than other types of protein supplements, such as casein powder, which provides 24 g per serving. Additionally, research from the December 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism" suggests that 20 g of protein is required for optimal workout recovery.
Carbohydrates
Hemp protein contains 5 g of carbohydrates per serving, with 4 g of fiber and 1 g of sugar. Nutrition researcher Dr. John Berardi suggests that you consume at least .8 g of carbohydrates per kg of bodyweight following workouts for optimal recovery. If you weigh 160 lbs, or 72.7 kg, this would equal 58 g of carbohydrates, so hemp protein alone would not be a good bodybuilding recovery supplement.
Fat
Hemp protein is high in fat, with 6 g per serving. Of this fat, 2 g comes from saturated fat. While dietary fat does provide some nutritional benefits, high-fat protein supplements are not an optimal choice for bodybuilding. As Dr. John Berardi explains, fat can slow down the absorption of nutrients that your body needs for recovery.
References
- JohnBerardi.com; The Importance of Post Workout Nutrition; Dr. John M. Berardi; April 2002
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate: Calories in Hemp Protein Powder (Manitoba Harvest)
- Bodybuilding.com: Calories Burned While Exercising
- PubMed Health; Tips for Losing Weight; October 2009
- LIVESTRONG.COM MyPlate: Calories in Casein Protein
- "International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism"; Nutritional Strategies to Promote Postexercise Recovery; M. Beelen et al.; December 2010
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