Are protein shakes good for weight loss? This is one of the most frequently asked questions that we hear at Powerful Nutrition, and while the answer can be somewhat complex, it's crucial to understand the role that protein plays in balancing weight and curbing food cravings. Incorporating high protein drinks such as pre-made shakes into your diet can play an essential role in promoting a healthy weight and may be able to help you shed some extra pounds when consumed correctly and as part of a whole-body plan.
Consuming more protein can help you boost your metabolism, curb hunger and appetite, reduce your caloric intake, and more. However, it's important to know when to add this extra element to your diet, the best forms, and furthermore the best and most convenient brands and products. There's no doubt that the market has quite a few options to choose from, but here at Powerful Nutrition, we know that the delicious snacks, shakes, and supplements we offer have the most competitive edge. Try our complete line today and see why customers, health and fitness enthusiasts, and busy people on the go are raving about Powerful Nutrition.
Protein Shakes Decrease Hunger and Appetite
If you're trying to lose weight, the process often comes down to some simple math. You need to consume fewer calories than your body burns off on any given day. There are a few ways to achieve this–you can increase the amount of physical activity you get so that your body begins to use more fuel and therefore more calories. Or, you can cut back on how many calories you consume. Many people choose to do both when they're on a weight loss journey. A healthy balance of a nutritious diet and moderate exercise is widely considered the safest and most effective way to lose unwanted fat.
But many people face the downfall of feeling hungry all the time when they cut back on meals and calories. They experience sugar and carbohydrate cravings, get headaches, suffer from mood swings and agitation, and more. It can be an unpleasant experience as your body adjusts to consuming less food than before, especially if you have a particularly ravenous appetite. That's where protein shakes can help.
Drinks such as plant-based, pre-made protein shakes help decrease hunger and appetite in two key ways. First, they increase levels of hormones like GLP-1, PYY, and CCK, which play a crucial role in decreasing your appetite. At the same time, they also reduce levels of the hunger hormone "ghrelin."
Additionally, adding more protein to your diet can help you feel fuller for longer periods of time. That means less hunger between meals, fewer impulses to snack, and the desire to consume less food when you do sit down for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Furthermore, protein shakes often have far fewer total calories than your average sit-down meal. If you choose to use protein shakes as a meal replacement option, not only will you be impacting the crucial hunger hormones and curbing your appetite, but you'll also be decreasing your total caloric intake. This can help with weight loss significantly.
When to Drink Protein Shakes to Help with Weight Loss
When answering the question "are protein shakes good for weight loss?" the answer of "it depends" can seem ambiguous and frustrating. However, the reality is that it depends on what type of protein shakes you add to your diet, what other steps you're taking to improve your health, and also when you choose to drink the protein shakes.
If your goal is weight loss, the best time to drink a protein shake is a few hours before you exercise or workout. Never drink a protein shake right before bed, as you'll be adding extra calories and fat to your diet without having the opportunity to burn it off. This can actually lead to weight gain.
When you drink a protein shake a few hours before you exercise, say in the middle of the morning or the early afternoon, you'll be providing your body with enough fuel to complete your workout and burn fat for a longer period of time all while curbing your appetite.
Best Protein Shakes for Weight Loss
The best protein shakes for weight loss are ones that address the key elements of nutrition, are convenient, tasty, and available at a good price. Once you find a shake that checks all of these boxes, you've found your winner. Look for clean ingredients on the label that you recognize, products without a lot of added sugar, that are somewhat low on fat, and not too high in calories.
As a general rule, shakes should have at least 20 grams of protein and several grams of fiber to help achieve your nutrition and fitness goals. If you're looking for the best protein shakes for weight loss, check out Powerful Nutrition's plant-based protein shake variety pack, which comes with 12 total 11 oz bottles in three flavors (each pack contains four bottles of the following flavors: chocolate, vanilla, and mocha.)
Powerful Nutrition Plant-Based Protein Shakes are 100% Vegan, 0 grams of sugars or added sugars, and have a five-star customer rating.
Another great protein shake for weight loss is Powerful Nutrition's Powerful Drink made with Greek yogurt. With 20 grams of protein, you get the weight-loss benefits of protein with the delicious, cream tang of Greek yogurt. You can't go wrong with these two great options.
The Bottom Line on Protein Shakes and Weight Loss
Are protein shakes good for weight loss? They certainly can be! If you get a high-quality shake with an adequate amount of protein and other premier ingredients, without tons of fat or added sugar, and consume the drinks at the appropriate time to aid your weight loss journey you can see excellent results.
Be sure to compare products to see which protein shake meets your unique needs. Remember, the more active you are the more protein your body needs to keep going, so you may find yourself drinking more than one shake a day. When you find one that's delicious, like our chocolate, vanilla, and mocha flavors, drinking a protein shake for weight loss may just become a favorite part of your day.