If you’re keen on keeping fit and working out, vitamin and mineral supplements may well be a must-have in your diet so that you can repair and build your muscles and perform at your best. But protein and electrolyte powder can be expensive – read on as we take a closer look at the benefits of protein powder and how you can bring down the overall costs.
Benefits of Protein Powder
Most of us tend to get our supply of protein through a balanced diet, however, if you are training and putting your body through rigorous stress, you may benefit from a higher intake of protein.
First and foremost, protein can help with muscle growth, so if your main goal is to build and increase strength in the gym, introducing protein powder into your diet may be a good option.
As well as this, it can also help your muscles to repair after a hard workout, and you might even find that it reduces that feeling of sore muscles after a gym session.
If you stick to a vegan or vegetarian diet, it can be difficult to fit your daily dose of protein into your diet, so adding these supplements in the form of a powder means you can give your body everything it needs to function correctly.
How to Choose the Best Product for You
There are so many protein products to choose from, which can make your decision more difficult when it comes to which will suit you best.
To start with, you should familiarize yourself with the common types of protein, such as whey, casein, soy, and pea. The type of protein you choose depends on what you are hoping to gain from taking it, whether that’s to speed up muscle recovery or to get essential acids.
You’ll also need to choose a product that suits your diet, whey, and casein both contain dairy, and therefore will not be suitable for vegans.
Protein powders come in a variety of flavors, so you can choose something that suits your preferences. You will also have to consider the cost, which we will look at in more detail below.
Ingredients to Look Out For
If you are new to protein powder, there are a few things that you should look out for when making your purchase, one of the main ones being whether your protein powder has been tested.
This could be testing that shows that the protein you are choosing is worth the money and works the way you want it to, or it could be testing to show that the ingredients used to formulate the protein powder are safe to consume.
As previously mentioned, if you are sticking to a diet, for example, if you are vegan or dairy intolerant, you should be sure to check that the powder you decide to use does not contain whey or casein. The quality of ingredients may also differ from brand to brand, which is why they vary so much in price.
Benefits of Bulk Buying
Using protein powder regularly can have an impact on your bank balance, so finding a way to reduce the cost is advantageous. Buying your protein powder in bulk means that you are less likely to run out and you could make a saving.
Here are a few of the benefits that come with bulk buying protein:
- Price per serving: Buying protein in bulk brings down the price per serving, which means you are saving money buying more than you would be when choosing to buy sachets to use on a one-off basis instead.
- Use by: Protein powders are dry and contain ingredients that help them to keep over a long period – up to around 6 months.This means you don’t have to worry about buying too much and not using it straight away – you can take your time to make your way through your bulk order.
- Delivery: You can save on added delivery costs when choosing to buy in bulk and this will work out to be more affordable because you won’t have to place an order as often as you would with smaller containers or sachets.
- Convenience: Keeping a larger container of protein is convenient and means that you are less likely to run out, which is especially handy if you are using it every day.
Are Cheap Protein Powders as Effective?
If you take any type of supplement, you will find that they can be expensive – and protein is no exception. High-quality protein can leave a dent in your bank balance but are there cheap protein powders that work just as well?
Some brands offer more affordable options, however, there are a few factors that you should look out for that may help to explain why they are cheaper. You may find that these protein powders feature poor-quality ingredients, like added artificial sweeteners or sugars. They may also contain lower protein per serving, so you may be spending your money on a product that may not help you to reach your goals.