Are protein powders good for you?

Protein powders are not just for weight lifters but you’ll find a variety of protein powders at mainstream supermarkets, and they can be incorporated into a wide range of recipes far beyond your typical smoothie.

Protein powders are powders made of either an animal source, including eggs, dairy-derived, or a variety of plant sources. Plant-sourced protein can come from foods like pumpkin seeds, split peas, soy, brown rice, quinoa, and hemp.

One of the main differences between plant and animal proteins involves their amino acid content. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The body needs different amino acids at different times and situations. A diet should include all nine essential amino acids.

Animal proteins are called complete proteins as they contain all 9 essential amino acids. Whereas, plant proteins are called incomplete proteins because they lack methionine, lysine, and tryptophan from the group of the 9 essential amino acids.

Certain sources of animal protein can contain high levels of heme iron and vitamin B-12, while this may be lacking in plant-based proteins. Plant-specific proteins can also lack some antioxidants when compared to animal-sourced proteins.

The RDA for protein for a healthy adult with a minimal physical activity level is usually 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram (or 2.2 pounds) of body weight per day and it varies depending on weight and physical activity. If your daily protein requirement is about 60 grams per day, one serving of protein powder can meet a solid one-third of your everyday goal. That’s pretty significant.

The goal is not to include protein powder in everything you eat but it is to meet the protein requirement of your body. Plant-based can be a good option if it has been tested for contaminants. Protein powders are notoriously defamed for being high in added sugars, artificial flavoring, and thickeners.

On the other hand, some really good protein powders have little added sugars, flavours, and thickeners. Gastrointestinal discomfort is a common after-effect for some people when they use a milk-based protein powder (a symptom not seen with plant-based protein). 

Protein powder blends well into smoothies, but you can also add it to oatmeals, pancakes, breakfast cookies, and energy balls & bars. It can also be blended into soups, hummus, plant burger patties, pizza crust, chia pudding, homemade ice cream, brownies, and DIY peanut butter cups.

Rather than focusing on a single type of protein, it may be better to focus on eating a wide variety of foods and combining both sources of protein periodically. This can help ensure that you get the right balance of amino acids and other vital nutrients.