For those individuals looking for the proper balance between protein, fats, and carbohydrates, using protein powder may be a smart addition to their diets. Unlike fats and carbohydrates which tend to be in abundance in the average person's daily eating habits, getting enough protein can be a challenge. Since getting sufficient amount of protein is so important to the body's ability to build muscle, repair damaged cells, and regulate metabolism, it is essential that individuals inject plenty of protein for the body weight.

Why Not Just Eat More Food That Has Protein?

The problem with this is that most high protein foods are also high in fat, calories, and cholesterol. A nice piece of steak may be loaded with protein, but it's also packed with saturated fat. Fish and poultry are healthier choices for getting protein, but many people simply don't eat this types of meats. Not to mention the fact that usually they are prepared with calorie-rich sauces, breading, and sides.

Protein Powders: The Ideal Solution

Adding protein powder to the typical diet gives individuals the ability to get the necessary amounts of protein without all of the "extra" things included with eating most types of meat. Just a couple of spoonfuls of powder can add 5 to 20 grams of protein immediately into your body.

Another benefit of getting your protein in powder form is that it is much easier for the body to digest and absorb into the cells. The human body has difficulty breaking down meat products, and there is still some debate on how much of the protein actually gets absorbed before getting passed from the body. A high percentage of protein (from the powder form) gets quickly utilized by the body and ready to assist in muscle tissue repair and growth, as well as metabolism maintenance and cell damage repair.

The Many Types Of Protein Powders

Protein supplements, especially in powder form, come in all shapes and sizes. There are a variety of flavors available (like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, etc) to suit your tastes and that can be mixed with water, juice, or milk for fast ingestion. Or, if you want to subtly add extra protein to dishes like spaghetti sauce or oatmeal, there are flavor-free powders available for use.

Most protein powders have very little fat and cholesterol, and many are also sold with in "low calorie" and "no calorie" versions. Another benefit is that individuals will know exactly how much protein they are getting. When trying to make up for insufficient protein levels solely by eating more meats, it's often difficult to know for sure how much protein is actually in the meat. Sure, there are food tables that can be used to get an estimate. But properly correlating that to actual portion size may make it hard to pin down the exact number of protein grams that are consumed.

Adequate protein consumption is an important part a variety of bodily functions (most notably muscle growth and cell repair). Since the diets of most individuals are significantly lacking in sufficient protein levels, using a protein powder can be an intelligent option in ensuring that enough protein gets into the body without adding extra calories, fats, and cholesterol.