What Are Protein Shakes?
Humans need 0.8 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. But research shows that most of us lack an adequate amount of protein – meaning the dietary protein intake is not satisfactory. Moreover, you may not find the time to cook a proper meal due to the fast-paced lifestyle. But our body needs protein to function properly and efficiently. This factor has made protein shakes/supplements popular. What is it? Well, a protein shake is exactly what the name says – it’s protein! To be more specific – protein powders of whey, soy, casein, or hemp protein containing the essential amino acids are mixed with water, milk, or added to breakfast bowl or smoothies. Now, let’s find out how protein shakes can help you lose weight.
How Protein Shakes Aid Weight Loss?
If you are not getting the required daily dose of protein, you must take protein shakes to help your body build muscle, hormones, and enzymes to function properly, maintain proper cellular and biochemical functions, produce immune system components, and help in growth, muscle contraction, wound healing, and improve cardiovascular functions. Now, all these functions are directly or indirectly related to weight loss. Directly, proteins take more energy to metabolize thereby creating a negative energy balance and proteins increase satiety and reduce the ghrelin (hunger hormone) levels, keeping your hunger pangs at bay. Indirectly, proteins aid weight loss by helping in gluconeogenesis thereby controlling blood sugar levels. Proteins also aid weight loss by synthesizing biomolecules that take part in various functions of the cells and the body. But the next big question is, when to drink the protein shakes to lose weight? Let’s find out.
When To Drink Protein Shakes For Weight Loss?
The best time to drink a protein shake is the time when you are more prone to snacking. For example, if you like to snack before lunch or during the evenings, drinking a protein shake instead, will help you shed the flab. Some people also consume protein shake post-workout to help rebuild the muscles. So, if your workout routine is rigorous and you are looking at replenishing protein in the muscles, you can have a protein shake after exercising. Now, there are many protein shakes available in the market that are recommended by fitness experts. Here’s a list of protein shakes that you can try.
10 Protein Shakes For Weight Loss
1. Best Keto-Friendly: Gold Standard 100% Whey
It is one of the best protein powders available in the market. It contains 24g of whey protein, 1g carb, and 1g fat per serving. It also contains 5.5g branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and more than 4 g of glutamine and glutamic acid per one serving. You can drink it first thing in the morning, post-workout, or just as a meal replacement. Make sure to mix it with water or milk according to the directions on the label. Click here to check out a detailed personal review of this product. Pros
Keto-friendly Gluten-free Easy to swallow Great taste
Cons
Might have artificial sweeteners
2. Best Quality: Pro JYM
The next most recommended protein powder for weight loss and building muscle is Pro JYM. Each serving of Pro JYM gives 24g best quality protein and contains high-quality whey-protein, micellar casein, egg albumin, and milk isolate protein. If you are looking for a protein powder that helps you build muscle and tone up, you must get Pro JYM. Here’s a personal review video to help you get a better understanding of the product. Pros
Great taste Unisex No spiking Versatile use
Cons
Chalky aftertaste
3. Best Post-Workout Drink: Nitro-Tech
Want to improve your muscle performance or want to prepare yourself for an upcoming competition? Go for Nitro-Tech protein powder. It contains whey protein and is enriched with creatine and essential amino acids. It helps in speedy recovery and prevents fatigue and muscle soreness. It is best to drink it post-workout. Pros
Ideal for post-workout Unisex Digests easily Improves recovery
Cons None
4. Best Drink In Between Meals: Gold Standard 100% Casein
Calcium is essential for women and this protein powder, Gold Standard 100 % casein, provides you with 60% of daily value of calcium. It also provides 24g slow digesting micellar casein protein, 5g natural BCAA, and 5g glutamine and glutamic acid. You can drink this in between meals if you have a tendency to snack at odd times. Need more information? Watch this video. Pros
Absorbs quickly Creamy Consistency Tastes good Affordable
Cons
May not mix well
5. Best Aspartame-Free:Syntha-6
Syntha-6 is a unique blend of fast, medium, and slow digesting proteins and it also gives 5g of fiber per serving. It also contains BCAAs, peptides, nonessential amino acids, and Glutamine. Drink it post workout as it helps in muscle recovery and is also aspartame-free. Pros
Aspartame-free Ideal for post-workout Promotes recovery Value for money
Cons
May have an unpleasant taste
6. Best Gluten-Free: Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit High Protein For Weight Loss
4.2 BUY ON AMAZON | $29.6 Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit High Protein For Weight Loss is a plant-based protein powder, providing 28g protein per serving. It is formulated with raw organic ashwagandha to fight cravings, green coffee bean extract, cinnamon, and chromium to burn fat for weight loss, while enzymes and probiotics aid in easy digestion. This vegan drink also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels and is free from gluten, soy, and dairy. Pros
Fights cravings Organic Gluten-free Dairy-free Soy-free Non-GMO plant protein U Kosher
Cons None
7. Best Dairy-Free: Orgain Vegan Nutritional Shake
Want to try a delicious dairy-free, GMO-free, and a gluten-free protein shake? Try Orgain Vegan Nutritional Shake. It provides 16g protein per serving – the protein being extracted from flax, chia, hemp, organic brown rice, and organic fruit and veggies. It is a great protein supplement and can be used as a meal replacement option. Pros
Dairy-free USDA Organic Vegan Unisex Gluten-free Dairy-free Soy-free Kosher Non-GMO Carrageenan-free Diabetic friendly No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Cons
Unpleasant taste
8. Best Hunger Control Drink: SlimFast Original Meal Replacement Shakes
4.4 BUY ON AMAZON | $25.77 SlimFast Original Meal Replacement Shakes come in a pack of 8 individually- bottled shakes. Each bottle provides 10g protein, 5g fiber, and 180 calories, 24 vitamins, and essential minerals. It makes up for four hours of hunger control, syncing perfectly with our fast-paced lifestyles. It is available in many delicious flavors to make losing weight an easy process. Pros
Curbs appetite Gluten-free Diet-friendly Value for money
Cons None
9. Best Soy-Free: Iconic Lean Protein Shake
This grass-fed protein drink provides 20g protein and 4g fiber per serving. This is a non-GMO, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, artificial ingredient-free, and is sweetened with fair-trade organic blue algae. Pros
Vegetarian Soy-free Keto-friendly Sugar-free Low-calorie Gluten-free Lactose-free Non-GMO BPA-Free
Cons None
10. Best Caffeine-Free: BSN ISOBURN Fat Burning Protein Powder Matrix
4.4 BUY ON AMAZON | $39.99 BSN ISOBURN Fat Burning Protein Powder Matrix offers 20g of whey protein per serving. It contains L-carnitine, lepticore, and green coffee extract to support the fat-burning process and lose weight effectively. Free from caffeine, it is ideal to be consumed any time of the day for a lean muscled body. Pros
Non-caffeinated Suitable for any time use Nice flavor Value for money
Cons None *Subject to Availability Now, if drinking protein powders or protein shakes are not your thing then you can try making protein shakes at home. Here are few recipes for you to try.
5 Yummy Homemade Protein Shake Recipes
11. Strawberry, Chia, Almond Milk
Ingredients
1 cup strawberries 1 cup almond milk 2 teaspoons chia seeds
How To Prepare
[ Read: Benefits Of Strawberries ]
12. Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Banana
Ingredients
1 banana 2 tablespoons peanut butter 3 tablespoons of melted dark chocolate
How To Prepare
13. Raw Egg, Milk, Honey
Ingredients
1 raw egg white 1 cup milk 2 teaspoons honey
How To Prepare
14. Oats And Berry
Ingredients
2 tablespoons oats 4 blueberries 5 strawberries 4 blackberries 1 cup warm milk 2 teaspoon maple syrup
How To Prepare
[ Read: Benefits Of Oats ]
15. Yogurt, Kiwi, Flaxseed
Ingredients
1 cup yogurt ½ cup kiwi 1 teaspoon ground flaxseeds 1 teaspoon honey
How To Prepare
These delicious homemade protein shakes and the protein powders will help you in many different ways for weight loss. Want to know how? Read below.
Benefits Of Protein Shakes For Weight Loss
Now, let us find out how else you can add protein to your diet?
How To Make Your Diet Protein-Rich?
Here are few tips on how to make your diet rich in protein. Tip#1 – Include a source of protein in every meal. Tip#2 – Add nuts and seeds to your diet. Tip#3 – If you are a vegetarian or vegan, drink vegan protein shakes. Tip#4 – Try different recipes to make your protein-rich food more fun and innovative. Well, now we have almost come to an end – just one thing. Are there any side effects of protein shakes? Find out below.
Protein Shake Side Effects
Some people drink protein shake even when they are on high protein diet, i.e. they get enough protein from whole foods. In this case, they may damage the kidneys in the long run and may experience painful joints. You may suffer from digestive problems. If you do not exercise regularly and eat well, you will start looking bulky. You may experience hair loss if your diet becomes dependent only on protein shakes. Hormonal balance may get disrupted. Drinking too much protein shake may damage your liver. Protein shakes may have a negative interaction with a few drugs.
Why Trust Stylecraze?
Aditi Naskar, the author of this article, holds a diploma in health and wellness. She is passionate about reviewing fitness and health products. She has listed the best protein shakes for weight loss after thorough research and reviewing of various products available on the market. Right from listing the best products available to instructing the readers how to choose the best one, she has got you covered. Consumption of these protein shakes helps weight loss, improves metabolism, and prevents weight gain by curbing your hunger. After rigorous exercise, these protein shakes help in gaining energy. These contain casein ingredients, egg albumin, and 5g glutamine, which helps speedy recovery and prevents fatigue. In addition, they support the fat-burning process to reduce cravings. Pick the best protein shakes that suit your workout needs with the help of our buying guide. How many protein shakes should you drink a day to lose weight? Drink one or two protein shakes a day to lose weight. However, it can only complement a healthy diet and not supplement one. When should you drink protein shakes? Drink protein shakes at least 30 minutes to an hour after exercising. This time frame is known as the anabolic window which refers to the short time after a workout when your muscles tend to repair and recover. How long after drinking a protein shake should I eat? Wait for 45 minutes to an hour to eat after having your protein shake. What is the best-tasting protein shake for weight loss? The Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit High Protein For Weight Loss is the best-tasting protein shake. It contains cinnamon, green coffee bean extract, and chromium that burns extra calories while tasting good. The shake is free from gluten, dairy, and soy. Can I drink a protein shake before bed? Yes, drink a protein shake before bed to help your body build muscles as you rest and improve the quality of your sleep. Can we drink protein shakes on an empty stomach? Yes, you can drink a protein shake on an empty stomach.
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