WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH PROTEIN POWDERS?
A couple of months ago I touched on how protein powders can be helpful in supporting protein intake, so given we’re now heading into better weather which often means a more summery menu, I thought now would be a good time to do a deep dive.
To recap, protein is an essential macronutrient, made up of amino acids which are vital for growth, development and repair. Ensuring you consume the 20 different amino acids we need can be a challenge, especially if you live a more plant based lifestyle. Inadequate protein intake can impact blood glucose balance, mood stability, satiety in between meals and hormonal support. For a full rundown of this, click here.
Are protein powders the answer?
Protein powders are not essential or a substitute for a healthy diet. I very much support a food first approach, aiming to empower my clients with the knowledge of how to consume enough protein from food (it is 100% possible!).
Having said this, in certain cases they can be a convenient way of increasing protein intake. If you would like to include protein powders, I’d recommend seeking advice from a nutritionist/healthcare professional in determining which one is right for you and checking the ingredients. The supplement industry in the UK is unregulated (click here to read what I have to say about this) and many protein powders are bulked out with unhelpful additives and sugars. What you’re looking for is a short ingredient list of food sources you recognise.
How to use them
While most protein powders are designed to be mixed with water, juice or milk and made into a simple shake, they are also great added into recipes to give them that extra boost. Why not try adding them into the following:
Breakfast: Smoothies, porridge, overnight oats, cereal, granola, muesli, chia pudding, yoghurt, banana pancakes (banana, eggs, protein powder, oats)
Lunch/Dinner: Salad dressings, soups, homemade burgers, pasta sauces
Baking: Cookies & muffins
Brands I recommend:
Form Protein: either the unflavoured Pureblend Protein or flavoured (chocolate salted caramel, vanilla or toffee) Superblend protein
Purition - https://www.purition.co.uk/shop/wholefood-plant-nutrition/
Nuzest - https://www.nuzest.co.uk/products/clean-lean-protein
I always love to hear about topics you’d like to know more about so please do get in touch via email, the contact page or Instagram with any questions!
