Having a healthy diet is the first requirement for a healthy body. A healthy diet contains a sufficient amount of protein (plant-based or animal-based), fats, fiber, and vitamins to maintain the body’s normal functioning. There are different options to consume protein to maintain an adequate balance. In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of protein powder and also highlight the best protein powder in the UK.
WheyOkay offers several protein powders, giving you the option to choose from a variety of leading brands that provide high-quality, preservative-free, nutritious, and flavored protein powders to choose from.
What is Protein Powder?
Protein is made up of amino acids which help the body to grow and repair cells. The body’s protein requirements increase during pregnancy or injury recovery, particularly for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. It is sometimes not possible to fulfill these requirements through dietary intake alone. In such cases, protein powders or supplements come in handy.
Protein powder is a dietary supplement formed by extracting protein from plant or animal-based sources. Consuming the recommended dosage helps in gaining muscle, weight, and recovery after an intense workout. You can choose from Pea Protein, Whey Protein, Casein Protein, or Soy Protein. Some of these are also suitable for lactose-intolerant individuals and vegans.
Benefits of Consuming Protein Powder
As stated earlier, protein powder can be added to one’s diet to provide the required amount of protein to the body. It is a supplement that can be added in the form of smoothies or shakes. You can also buy protein bars or protein cookies as a quick and easy option after a heavy workout. Let us now discuss the various benefits of adding protein powder to your diet.
- Convenient: Protein powders are convenient to use as they can be mixed with food or milk. They are especially helpful to those who have a busy lifestyle and do not have the time to go through a diet chart to meet their body’s protein requirements.
- Cost-effective: If you compare protein powders with meat for protein per serving, you will be amazed to see that protein powders are relatively cheaper. For instance, you can buy 7 Nutrition Bodybuilder 1.5 kg for only £21.37 at Whey Okay. This means that you end up spending only £0.014/g of your protein intake.
- Versatile: You have different options of protein powders to choose from and different ways to consume them. Make shakes or smoothies, or consume them in protein bars, as per your choice or taste.
- Complete nutritional balance: Protein powders are not only a source of protein but also provide the necessary vitamins and minerals required for body growth.
- Muscle growth: Protein powders help build muscles at a much faster rate. They also help in repairing muscles after an injury or a heavy workout.
- Mental focus: Protein is required by our brain to function. Hence, consuming protein powder can be beneficial in improving focus and mental strength. It can also improve concentration and memory, and reduce overall fatigue.
- A feeling of satiety: Consuming protein powder can give you a feeling of fullness and thus reduce unnecessary food cravings. It gives you the freedom to follow a healthy diet plan by removing junk food and cravings from your life.
- Metabolism: Protein powder increases metabolism and helps you maintain an ideal and healthy body weight.
- Strong bones: Protein powders help maintain bone strength and reduce chances of injury by increasing bone density. They can also help in reducing pain and inflammation of joints.
- Quick action: Protein powders are helpful for athletes and people actively involved in heavy exercises by enabling muscle repair in less time after a workout.
Types of Protein Powder
Protein powder can come in various forms. Let us check out the various types of protein powders available to choose from our website Whey Okay:
- Whey Isolate: It contains more than 90% of the protein by removing excess fats and carbohydrates. This type of protein powder is also ideal for lactose-intolerant individuals. Some of the options to choose from include:
- 7 Nutrition Whey Isolate 90
- Rule 1 R1 Protein
- BioTech USA Iso Whey Zero
- Dymatize Iso 100
- Mutant Iso Surge
- Whey Protein: Whey proteins are beneficial for those looking to gain weight, promote muscle growth, lower blood pressure, and reduce inflammation. Here is a list of some of the Whey proteins to choose from:
- GYM HIGH Whey Pro Synergy
- KIOR Health Whey + Probiotics
- Applied Nutrition Clear Whey
- Boditronics Diet Whey
- Grenade Hydra 6 Protein
- Casein Protein: Casein is another protein found in milk. These protein powders take a little longer to digest compared to Whey Protein. However, they help in improving the digestive system, increasing immunity, and lowering blood pressure. Here are some of the protein powders to choose from:
- 7 Nutrition 100% Micellar Casein
- BioTech USA Micellar Casein
- Effective Nutrition 100% Micellar Casein
- Optimum Standard Gold Standard 100% Casein
- PEScience Select Protein
- Vegan Protein: Vegan Protein powder is made up of plant-based sources suitable for vegans. Check out a few of the best vegan protein powders in UK on our website:
- GYM HIGH Vegan Plant-Based-Protein Blend
- Ghost Vegan Protein
- BioTech USA Vegan Protein
- Effective Nutrition Vegan Protein
- Lenny & Larry's Complete Vegan Cookie
- Love Vegan High Energy Protein Bite
- Mass Gainer: This type of protein powder is suitable for people who want to gain weight and muscle. Check out the list of protein powders in this category:
- GYM HIGH Mass Gainer
- 7 Nutrition Bodybuilder
- Applied Nutrition Critical Mass Gainer
- MuscleTech Mass Tech
- Reflex Instant Mass Heavyweight
- Beef Protein: We also have beef protein powders that are rich in iron and low in fat making them a complete source of protein. Check out some of the options in this category:
- MuscleMeds Carnivor Mass
- MuscleMeds Carnivor Beef Isolate
- NXT Beef Protein Isolate
- Clear Whey Protein: This protein powder is low in fat compared to the normal Whey powder. Check out the options in this category:
- Hubba Bubba Clear Whey Protein
- Applied Nutrition Clear Whey Protein
- Reflex Nutrition Clear Whey Isolate
How Much Protein Should You Ideally Consume?
The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) for protein in the UK is 0.75 g/kg of body weight. You can consume protein through powders or dietary sources to maintain good health. However, always remember to check the instructions on the package and follow the recommended dosage for optimum health.
Here is a list of some of the dietary sources of protein:
Source | Protein (g) per 100 g of Food |
Chicken Breast | 27g |
Salmon Fillet | 25g |
Eggs | 13g |
Greek Yogurt | 10g |
Peanut Butter | 26g |
Oats | 11g |
Tofu | 8g |
Chickpeas | 6.7g |
Lean Beef | 21g |
Whey Protein | 75g |
Conclusion
Protein powder is an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective way to meet your body’s protein requirements. However, remember to eat a healthy diet along with it. These powders are only supplements and should never be taken to replace a balanced meal.
Protein powders are available for everyone as per their body requirements. You can choose protein powder for weight loss, weight gain, or muscle gain. WheyOkay offers the best protein powders available for everyone. Visit our website for more details today.