Protein Blends: What You Need to Know About It
If you want to enhance your fitness or athletic performance, sports nutrition should be considered. You must know that sports nutrition is the foundation of any fitness success. In sports nutrition, there are macronutrients that can help supply energy to optimise your body function.
One macronutrient is protein, which plays an important role in muscle growth and recovery. Basically, proteins are made of a chain of amino acids. However, the body cannot make these amino acids. You only get it from the foods you eat and the protein supplements you take.
When it comes to picking the right protein supplement, it can be confusing but you should first learn about protein blends. By knowing protein blends, you can make an informed decision. Here are the things that you need to know about protein blends:
What is a protein blend?
A protein blend refers to the combination of two or more different forms of protein. It can be a combination of the following:
- Whey: this is a milk protein, which is sought by many athletes because it is considered a complete protein. Complete protein means it contains all amino acids that the body requires from a food. Moreover, the body absorbs the whey protein easily and quickly.
- Casein: this protein is rich in glutamine, which can hasten muscle recovery after your exercise session. It is known that the body slowly digests casein protein making it ideal to take at night.
- Soy: this is the best alternative to whey or casein proteins. Soy protein is ideal for those that do not consume dairy. It also contains all amino acids.
Why use protein blend?
You should think about protein blend because it combines different forms of protein. By combining the two proteins together, you get the best of both worlds. In the end, it will provide a better synthesis and muscle growth.
What to consider in your protein blend?
To help you get started, here are the different things you should consider in your protein blend:
- Look at individual sources: you need to look at the individual protein sources so you will know their unique nutritional benefits. For instance, whey, casein and soy proteins all have an impressive amino acid profile, which allows the body to digest and use it.
- Absorption rates: aside from checking the individual sources, you should also consider the absorption rates. You already know that casein is absorbed slower than whey or soy protein. With this, it is perfect to use it at night to help muscles recover. Whey and soy are absorbed quicker so it is ideal to use immediately after training.
Final words
If you consider protein supplements, your ultimate goal is to find a high-quality protein blend. For safer use, you need to speak to your dietician or doctor. The good news is you can purchase conveniently online but you should always do your research.