If you’ve been wanting to up your fitness gains, increase muscle mass, lose weight or generally improve your health, protein powder has probably come across your radar. But what exactly is protein powder, and how can you incorporate it into your diet such that you get the most out of this supplement?

Keep reading for our beginner’s guide to protein powder below. It will help you to understand this supplement better: what’s in it, when to use it and where you can find the right protein powder for you.

A beginner’s guide to protein powder

Protein is one of the most important elements of our diet. Of the three macronutrients — fats, carbohydrates and protein — it is the one responsible for providing amino acids, which build muscle, power our brains, sustain our energy levels, regulate our hormones, boost our immune system and promote healing and recovery.

It’s not hard to see why protein is so essential in order to have the energy and strength you need to hit fitness goals, achieve muscle gains and generally maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

What is protein powder?

While protein is naturally found in lots of foods, it can still be difficult to get enough protein through food sources alone, especially if you’re trying to grow your muscle mass or lose weight. As a general rule of thumb, we need between 10% and 35% of our daily diet to come from protein. However, athletes and those who exercise regularly will need more.

This is where protein powder comes in. It’s an affordable, extremely efficient and bioavailable source of protein. This convenient supplement can be easily added to meals and shakes and requires very little to no prep time.

The most common protein powders are whey protein, casein protein, egg protein and plant-based protein, such as those found in hemp, soy, pea, rice and pumpkin. They can be flavoured with chocolate and vanilla or flavourless for easy incorporation into recipes and meals.

When and how to use protein powder

One of the things you need to figure out when introducing this supplement to your daily diet is how to take protein powder and when to time your consumption of it. 

You can start your day with protein powder in a pancake mix or smoothie to create a nutrient-rich breakfast that will fuel you and keep you feeling fuller for longer. Fast-digesting protein powders in the morning have also been shown to encourage muscle building.

You can consume protein powder in a shake form before or after a workout to give you energy and aid in muscle recovery, respectively. 

It’s also a good idea to take protein powder before bed if you want to optimise the muscle-building and muscle-recovery benefits of protein powder.

Find the perfect protein powder to suit your goals at Discounted Supplements

Whether you want a vegan protein powder, one rich in BCAAs (branched-chain amino acids) to encourage muscle mass, a sugar-free option as part of your weight-loss routine or a great all-rounder, you’re sure to find it at Discounted Supplements. Shop our range of protein powders and supplements today and find your perfect protein fit.