PROTEIN 101

PROTEIN 101

Many people tell us about the 10lb tub of protein "XYZ" they got from the local supermarket only to complain about bloating and gas. Often times their argument for buying that product was because of the price. Most people look at all protein sources as being equal because, after all, protein is protein right? Not so fast. “If I’m getting all that bloating and discomfort from this product, how in the world is it doing any good for my body? Am I assimilating any of the serving?” These are questions that need to be answered. Low quality proteins and not taking the right kind of protein at the optimal time can lead to slow gains and wasted money. And in the pursuit of staying healthy and building a better body, consider whatever you are buying and putting into your body as a major purchase.

So how do you know the right type of protein to take? Following these simple rules will make it easy and take much of the guess work out of choosing the right protein in the sea of brands you see online and in the stores.

1. BETWEEN MEALS/BEFORE BED. If you are going to use a protein between meals or right before bed, choose a blended protein that is time released and assimilates slowly. Often times these have many different types of proteins (whey isolate, whey concentrate, casein, egg, milk, soy) to create a very slow digesting product. Look for things like added glutamine, BCAA's, and digestive enzymes as well. Examples are Pro Lean Mass, Dymatize Elite 12, and Labrada Pro V 60.

2. MORNING. If you are using a protein in the morning, use something very fast absorbing such as a whey protein isolate. The reason for this is that you have been pretty much fasting for however many hours you have been sleeping. It’s very important to flood your body with as many amino acids as possible in case you have slipped into a catabolic state while sleeping. Examples are Dymatize Iso-100, Extreme Labs Nitro 92, and Isopure.

3. GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. When choosing the right type of protein, make sure you are getting what you pay for. Read the label and ask someone to help you if you have questions. There really is a difference between the brands. Things such as lactose and low quality protein sources affect the rate of absorption and for some people, which makes drinking a protein shake about as appealing as getting a root canal. The 10lb bag of protein that you can find at the supermarket may seem appealing in price but what good is it doing your body if you are not assimilating the product efficiently? If you have a goal to meet for the number of protein grams to be consumed, you may be falling short if you are not taking in the correct protein at the right time. This can slow down your progress and lead to frustration when it seems like you are doing everything else correct.