These days, it's impossible to learn how to build muscle without stumbling onto the topic of supplements. The industry has boomed over the last ten years, with more and more people opting for meal replacement shakes to help them achieve their goals in the gym. But with so many different options out there, how can you possibly tell which whey protein is best to suit your fitness goals?
With every store in your local high street suddenly stocking a range of products and telling you that they're all essential to you reaching your goals, it can become very confusing indeed for those who aren't sure what they need to look for.
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the health and fitness industry is the importance played by dietary supplements. If you are to believe everything you read on the packaging, you'll undoubtedly begin feeling as if you need to be taking dozens of products in order to achieve any results. This is far from the truth.
Despite the fact that it may appear overly scientific at first, the basics behind the nutritional information on a protein product are quite simple. Much like the foundations of building a more muscular body in the gym, nothing much has changed over the last couple of decades when you get down to the fine details of it all.
The three items below will help you to decipher whether a product is as 'essential' as it claims to be.
* Look at the first ingredient.
* How much protein is provided in each serving?
* Is this a carbohydrate heavy product, too?
Understanding the three points above will go a very long way to helping you skip past the hype surrounding the products you'll see in your local supermarket and online. Firstly, which blend of protein is the first item listed in the ingredients?
For a protein supplement you'll see one of the three blends of whey listed first. It will read either hydrolized, isolate or concentrate. The difference between these blends is the speed they are digested into the muscles after a workout. Naturally, you want to provide your body with nutrition as quickly as you possibly can when you finish up in the gym, so hydrolized would be the perfect choice. However, hydrolized is usually the most expensive because of these added benefits. If you are on a budget and can only afford to purchase a concentrate formula don't be put off, it is still excellent and it still gets the job done. The actual difference in the performance of the three different blends doesn't justify the huge difference in prices.
Secondly, recent scientific studies confirm that the human body can only handle 20-30 grams of protein after a workout. This means you should be looking for a supplement which falls into those numbers. If you're taking a product which provides fifty or even sixty grams per serving you'll notice some unnecessary fat gain.
Finally, you'll need to take a look at the carbohydrate content within your chosen brand. This is how to separate products between those ideal for people trying to get leaner, as opposed to those trying to pack on serious size in a short space of time. If you are trying to get bigger, carbohydrates will become your best friend. If you're trying to figure out how to build muscle but stay lean at the same time, your protein shake should provide a very low carbohydrate content. Preferably, aim for under 8 grams.
Now that you know the three most important factors in a supplement, you'll be able to figure out which whey protein is best for you using the simple steps shown above. If you are about to delve into the supplement market for the first time you will now be able to do so in confidence.
With every store in your local high street suddenly stocking a range of products and telling you that they're all essential to you reaching your goals, it can become very confusing indeed for those who aren't sure what they need to look for.
One of the biggest misunderstandings in the health and fitness industry is the importance played by dietary supplements. If you are to believe everything you read on the packaging, you'll undoubtedly begin feeling as if you need to be taking dozens of products in order to achieve any results. This is far from the truth.
Despite the fact that it may appear overly scientific at first, the basics behind the nutritional information on a protein product are quite simple. Much like the foundations of building a more muscular body in the gym, nothing much has changed over the last couple of decades when you get down to the fine details of it all.
The three items below will help you to decipher whether a product is as 'essential' as it claims to be.
* Look at the first ingredient.
* How much protein is provided in each serving?
* Is this a carbohydrate heavy product, too?
Understanding the three points above will go a very long way to helping you skip past the hype surrounding the products you'll see in your local supermarket and online. Firstly, which blend of protein is the first item listed in the ingredients?
For a protein supplement you'll see one of the three blends of whey listed first. It will read either hydrolized, isolate or concentrate. The difference between these blends is the speed they are digested into the muscles after a workout. Naturally, you want to provide your body with nutrition as quickly as you possibly can when you finish up in the gym, so hydrolized would be the perfect choice. However, hydrolized is usually the most expensive because of these added benefits. If you are on a budget and can only afford to purchase a concentrate formula don't be put off, it is still excellent and it still gets the job done. The actual difference in the performance of the three different blends doesn't justify the huge difference in prices.
Secondly, recent scientific studies confirm that the human body can only handle 20-30 grams of protein after a workout. This means you should be looking for a supplement which falls into those numbers. If you're taking a product which provides fifty or even sixty grams per serving you'll notice some unnecessary fat gain.
Finally, you'll need to take a look at the carbohydrate content within your chosen brand. This is how to separate products between those ideal for people trying to get leaner, as opposed to those trying to pack on serious size in a short space of time. If you are trying to get bigger, carbohydrates will become your best friend. If you're trying to figure out how to build muscle but stay lean at the same time, your protein shake should provide a very low carbohydrate content. Preferably, aim for under 8 grams.
Now that you know the three most important factors in a supplement, you'll be able to figure out which whey protein is best for you using the simple steps shown above. If you are about to delve into the supplement market for the first time you will now be able to do so in confidence.
About the Author:
About the author: Top fitness coach Russ Howe PTI will show you which whey protein is best to suit your workout goals. His free walkthrough guide will also reveal how to build muscle now.
