Before we answer that question, let’s first examine the contents of the popular diet shake that claims to help people lose a few pounds. Contrary to popular belief, it is not made up solely of protein foods. Other nutrients, such as carbohydrates and fats, are also part of said shake; however, the percentage of protein is higher than the rest of the ingredients. With such a high protein content, these diet shakes have been called protein shakes.
The role of protein in our body is to support and improve bodily functions. It performs several specific functions, such as boosting metabolism and digestion, extending deep into the cellular level, aiding in growth and reproduction. Apart from that, it also helps in fluid regulation and plays an important role in transporting other nutrients throughout the body, binding and releasing them when needed.
Basically, the role of protein in our system is to increase our metabolism and release nutrients as needed, thus giving us more energy and improving our stamina. So how do protein shakes help you lose weight? There are many sources of protein, in addition to those found in our bodies. We can get this from fish, egg, chicken, milk, soy, yogurt, and many other sources. By having the right amount of protein intake in our body, we can manage and control our weight. The ideal protein intake that our body needs is 0.7 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, or about 45-56 grams of protein per day. If we rely on some of the depleted food sources in food as mentioned above, then we will have a hard time reaching the recommended daily protein intake.
This is where losing weight through protein shakes is more recommended than losing weight by eating various protein-rich foods, which may not have the best protein ingredients as you would have expected when buying them. Protein shakes are much easier to prepare and are more easily absorbed than other sources of protein in the food we eat. Furthermore, it is much easier to specifically get our daily protein by supplementing with protein shakes, in addition to other healthy protein sources found in food. Also, not many people get 20 grams of protein a day, let alone 50-60 grams.
Whey protein is generally the best protein ingredient for protein shakes. It is absorbed at the cellular level much faster by our body compared to other types of protein. It is also a good supplement for people who love to exercise. But there is also the protein casein; Although it is absorbed more slowly by the body, compared to whey, it is a good supplement and/or meal replacement. The protein present in these shakes helps build muscle, allowing the body to burn more calories. When more calories are burned, the tendency to lose weight is easier. While protein shakes are used for weight loss, they can also be used for weight gain. Just be careful with the protein composition. You don’t want to get the wrong mix and have it work against your effort to lose or gain weight using protein shakes.