working on a diet (using built's guide) and wanted to know how much of my protien can come from a protien shake? a percentage would work since everybody could use it for thier different weights. working on a clean bulk diet. thanks
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Personally I feel protein shakes should only be used in the following cases:
Pre-workout
Post-workout
If you wake up late and don't have time for a real breakfast
Just kind of a side convo I'm trying to start.For one thing, you need to consider protein quality. Just because a label says the food item contains 30g protein doesn't mean your body absorbs all 30g. Some sources have better absorption rates. If I'm not mistaken, eggs supposedly are the highest-quality protein source, at nearly 100%.
Just because a label says the food item contains 30g protein doesn't mean your body absorbs all 30g. Some sources have better absorption rates.
If I'm not mistaken, eggs supposedly are the highest-quality protein source, at nearly 100%.
Protein isn't just protein. If that were the case, then vegetarians and vegans would have no diet disadvantages.
For one thing, you need to consider protein quality. Just because a label says the food item contains 30g protein doesn't mean your body absorbs all 30g. Some sources have better absorption rates. If I'm not mistaken, eggs supposedly are the highest-quality protein source, at nearly 100%.
Secondly, and this relates to my vege/vegan remark -- not all proteins contain the same amino acids (AAs). This is why vegetarians and vegans need to combine certain foods to "complete" their protein. Some sources like black beans don't contain all the AAs necessary for the human body, which is why they combine it with a grain.
Good protein powders contain the BCAAs and other AAs, but this still doesn't mean it's the be-all-end-all protein source. Whole foods trump any diet market product.
Protein powders are useful for three reasons: (1.) they're calorie/carb efficient; if you're dieting, it can be difficult to get sufficient protein/AAs without taking in saturated fat and/or carbs; (2.) they can be used strategically in conjunction with training; this goes especially for whey isolate, which is a fast-absorption protein, used ideally after a workout; and, (3.) for those of us who are highly active, particularly with intense resistance training, and need more protein than the average person, powders are a cheaper, more convenient alternative to other expensive, filling whole food sources; while it's important to get your protein from primarily whole foods, it can be a bit much to stuff our faces with $5.00 chicken breasts all day....or the horrendous canned tuna path. Protein powder just gives us a break. It's a quick, simple, useful solution.
My rule is (ideally) no more than 1/5 daily protein from powder. For instance, I consume approximately 260g protein/day. I allow myself 2 scoops of whey isolate a day, 1 when I wake up on my way to work and 1 either in between my weight lifting and cardio OR an hour before bed...this gives me a total of 50g protein from whey powder, with the remaining 210g coming entirely from whole foods. Whey is the only source in my diet that isn't a whole food.
I just thought of a bonus use of protein powder...they can help certain staple BB'ing foods taste tolerable to good. I'm thinking cottage cheese and oats. Cottage cheese with avocado and tuna works decently, too, but my favourite mix is this:
-2/3 cup quick oats (240 calories, 54g carbs, 12g protein)
-1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese (80 calories, 1.5g fat, 14g protein)
-1 scoop chocolate whey isolate (120 calories, 25g protein)
For instance, tonight I'm training lower push and calves. So, I do three variations of squats, three calf exercises (mixed together..), head to the locker room and down this awesome snack, and head upstairs for a stationary bike for 20-45 mins. This mixture helps me a great deal.
Personally I feel protein shakes should only be used in the following cases:
Pre-workout
Post-workout
If you wake up late and don't have time for a real breakfast