Want to build muscle, lose weight, and boost health?

While many individuals think of protein powder as something made exclusively for meatheads at the gym, this perception is far from the truth. In fact, protein supplements are not only excellent for building muscle—they may also help you to lose weight, stay full, and even boost your health.

Because proteins are the building blocks of the body, they are an essential part of any diet. Unfortunately, some of us don’t receive enough of them from the foods we eat. Incorporating a protein supplement into your morning smoothie, can ensure that each of your organs is supplied with the energy it needs to function optimally.

Moreover, if you’re looking to lose weight, protein is your best bet. It is the most satiating macronutrient, and can help to boost metabolism by 80 to 100 calories per day. Plus, it helps to build muscle, ensuring that your body stays strong during the transformation process.

One of the best protein supplements is whey protein. Found in the watery part of milk, it is loaded with essential amino acids that help to build muscle. However, not all whey proteins are created equally: different processing practices can change their protein and nutrient content. The three types of whey protein include concentrate (70-80 per cent protein), isolate (90 per cent protein) and hydrolysate (a pre-digested protein). Out of these three options, concentrate is the most favoured—it is the most cost-effective of the three, and retains many of the nutrients in whey, unlike isolates and hydrolysates.

What’s more, whey has been found to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, reduce symptoms of stress and depression, protect against cancer, and increase bone mineral density. This supplement is much more than a muscle builder: it’s an essential part of any healthy diet.

When it comes to picking a protein powder, choose one that suits your budget and your goals. One of our favourites is MusclePharm’s Combat Protein Powder: formulated with a variety of protein blends that digest at different rates, this product helps to fuel your muscles—and keep you fuller—for longer. Additionally, it’s precision-engineered with whey protein concentrates, hydrolysates and isolates, egg albumin, and micellar casein, and it comes in a variety of delicious flavours.