It seems to be in vogue these days to sip protein drink supplements if you're a woman trying to get fit. The thought is that if you don't get enough protein in your diet you won't build lean body mass as efficiently when you do resistance training. The market is responding by providing a variety of protein supplement drinks that contain whey and soy protein supplements to help build lean body mass. If your goal is to tone up your muscles without building serious bulk, do you need protein drink supplements?
It's true that the amino acids in protein form the basic building blocks for muscle development. Without protein you would be unable to build muscle no matter how much resistance training is carried out. But, how much protein do you really need to tone muscles and get a firmer shape? If you're not trying to build bulk muscles, it's recommended that women get 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight on a daily basis. Using this formula, most women will require less than fifty grams of protein per day even when they're actively pursuing a fitness program. This amount of protein is usually easily supplied when a health diet is eaten. In fact, most women consume more protein than this each day. Drinking protein in the form of protein supplement drinks not only adds extra protein but additional calories as well which can add up to weight gain over time without adding any added benefit to your training program.
Another disadvantage to using protein supplement drinks is they're often used as a substitute for real food. This deprives you of the opportunity to enjoy the simple joy of eating. Most women will agree that the taste of a bland protein drink isn't good substitute for a tasty, nutritious meal. A better alternative to a protein drink supplement would be a bowl of oatmeal with skim milk and an egg white omelet. This would supply a nice protein boost along with a healthy dose of heart healthy fiber.
Could protein supplement drinks even be harmful? There's the thought that consuming high doses of protein in the form of protein supplement drinks could negatively impact health. A high protein diet has been shown to increase bone loss by promoting calcium excretion. It also may put additional strain on the kidneys and liver. Some studies also show an association between high protein diets and the development of certain types of tumors in animals.
The best advice if you're involved in a fitness training program to tone and firm is to eat a healthy, balanced diet that include 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. This is usually easy to accomplish with a little planning. The added benefit? You can still get your protein from the delicious taste of real food instead of a chalky protein drink.
