Protein & Working Out: Why is Protein Critical for Building Muscle and Staying Healthy?

Proteins are one of the most crucial components of any fitness enthusiast’s diet. This nutrient-packed compound is important no matter what your fitness goals may be – losing weight, gaining muscle, or even just toning up. Any individual engaged inweight training needs to make sure that he or she is getting enough protein.

Protein is a structural element, making up the bulk of your muscles, bones, cartilage, skin, blood, organs and tissues, and essential for hormone function, healthy immune systems, and healthy hair and nails. It is involved in almost every aspect of your body’s well-being in one form or another. Most importantly protein is necessary for building and repairing muscle tissue.

Protein & Weight Loss

Muscle tissue is the ultimate calorie burner! Since muscle burns calories more efficiently, the more muscle you have the more calories you will burn even when inactive. Strong, active muscles will continue to burn calories even when at rest so make sure you protect your muscles by working out and supplementing your diet with protein. Providing your body with enough protein will keep your energy up, provide your muscle with the nutrients they need to recover from a strenuous work out, and allow you to stay strong while working out.

Many bodybuilders and people who exercise frequently note that when they decrease their protein intake, they lose weight and feel weaker. This is because your body needs protein to recover from tough, tiresome workouts. Without protein, your body will turn to muscle tissue for energy!

The Best Protein for Working Out

For meals, the best sources of protein are lean meats, poultry, fish and dairy. Beans and lentils have a huge amount of protein but low levels of fat, especially saturated fats, which is extremely desirable for those looking to lose weight and tone up.

Protein Supplements

For those actively attempting to build muscle, increase strength, and tone, supplemental protein may be necessary in the diet. Those who find themselves feeling sluggish and weak, and who get dizzy during workouts may need to increase their protein intake via shakes, powders or other protein supplements. We recommend protein shakes as they are quick and easy to make and come in a variety of delicious flavors!

Protein products also have the added benefit of upping the intake of concentrated protein in the diet without additional calories or fats! As the name indicates, these are protein supplements – they should not replace a balanced diet, but rather, should be used in addition to it.

When to Take a Protein Supplement

Certain times of the day are best for taking protein supplements as they will best assist your metabolism and muscle tissue reparation.

1. After working out: This is the best time to ingest supplement as your body will be craving the raw materials to replenish its energies and rebuild its muscle tissue. If you don’t provide your body with what it needs, it’ll break down muscle elsewhere in the body to rebuild tissue. You can also take protein an hour after working out as the body has at this point settled down from the workout routine and is ready to start rebuilding.
2. In the morning: A scoop of protein powder in your morning fruit smoothie will boost your metabolism and give your muscles plenty of fuel after that 8 hour overnight fast.
3. Before bed: Before the 8 hour fast that is sleeping, give your body some whey proteinwhich is easy to break down and gets digested quickly. Mix a small scoop with a glass of soy milk just before going to bed!