Why is whey protein so popular as the fitness trend emerges? The reason is…

In recent years, health awareness has risen, fitness has become popular, and people who love sports are asking: "What can I eat to be strong?" Whey protein is a hot topic in the market and is favored by many fitness enthusiasts. Especially with the 2020 Olympics approaching, there will surely be another wave of sports craze, and the discussion about whey protein is expected to increase!

What exactly is whey protein?

Whey protein is a substance separated from milk. Its main component is a complete protein that can help the body build or repair damaged tissues. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and essential amino acids in whey protein can assist the body's digestion and absorption rate, making it a new favorite in nutritional supplements.

How much protein do we need?

The amount of protein each person needs varies depending on weight, age, and activity level:

Low activity level: body weight multiplied by 0.8 (predominantly sedentary lifestyle)

Moderate activity: body weight multiplied by 1.3 (basic exercise, labor-related work)

High activity level: multiply body weight by 1.8 (high-intensity physical activity, fitness enthusiasts)

Why drink whey protein?

The meat, beans, milk, eggs, etc. that we usually eat contain protein. If you can get enough protein by eating food, you don’t have to drink whey protein. However, it is difficult to get the amount of protein needed for fitness by eating food. For example, a fitness enthusiast weighing 60 kg needs to consume 90 grams of protein every day. If converted into milk, he needs to drink about 2500~3000c.c.; if converted into chicken breast, it is about three palm-sized slices. Even if he eats enough protein, it may be accompanied by too much calories and fat. As for whey protein with 80% protein content, each 200cc cup can provide nearly 30g of protein. Three cups a day can easily reach the recommended intake while also controlling calories. It is not difficult to understand why whey protein is so popular among fitness enthusiasts!

Of course, whey protein is not a panacea, and you won’t become a macho man just by drinking whey protein. You still have to combine it with exercise, a normal schedule, and a balanced diet to have a healthy body and a perfect figure!

In addition to the fitness group, there are two other groups that also need to consume more protein, namely the elderly and pregnant women.

Elderly people often feel that as they age, they should be more strict with their diet, eat less meat and eggs to avoid diseases. But in fact, the muscles of the elderly respond poorly to low amounts of protein and amino acids, so they need more protein to help muscle building. If you want to age healthily and avoid muscle loss, you should not only strengthen resistance exercise training in your daily life, but also consume more protein to maintain muscle health.

In addition, another group that we often overlook is pregnant women who are responsible for the nutrition of the fetus and baby. After protein enters the body of pregnant mothers, it helps to build and repair cell tissues, which is of great help to both the fetus and the pregnant mother. Whether pregnant women or mothers who are currently breastfeeding, they should pay more attention to the intake of high-quality protein.

How to choose whey protein?

There are hundreds of whey protein powders on the market. How should you choose? The following four key points can be used as a reference for purchase:

1. "Pay attention to ingredient labels" and "protein content"

Whey protein can be roughly divided into three categories: whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and hydrolyzed whey protein.

If you are not lactose intolerant or have special gastrointestinal problems, most people will directly choose concentrated whey protein, which is convenient and economical. It is recommended to purchase products with a protein content of more than 80%, as well as branched-chain amino acids BCAA, creatine, taurine, etc. in the ingredient list. The ingredients retain many trace elements and nutrients needed by the body, and can provide a more balanced and diverse nutritional supplement. Even if you don’t exercise, you can drink this supplement in moderation.

2. Choose your favorite flavor

Natural whey protein actually has an indescribable peculiar smell that many people find difficult to accept. In order to make it easier for consumers to drink, whey protein in various flavors has been launched, including: Mandheling flavor, Olay, Matcha and other refreshing flavors; and the most popular flavors among girls, such as Taro Olay, Red Bean Milk, etc. It is recommended to try more to find the flavor you like, and a smooth taste will help develop a drinking habit.

3. Choose products with good brewing solubility

In addition to taste, the solubility of protein powder is also an important factor affecting taste. Whey protein that is easy to brew is smoother to drink and less likely to clump. On the contrary, whey protein with poor solubility is easy to form clumps in water. When purchasing, it is recommended to pay attention to whether there is special information about solubility in the product introduction, or refer to the brewing experience of other netizens.

4. Choose a reputable brand

In the past, European and American brands of whey protein were common on the market, but now there are also Taiwanese brand whey protein powders, which can provide more choices for everyone. It is recommended to choose branded products as much as possible to ensure that you can drink them safely and securely.

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