Who doesn’t love a good smoothie? Many of us love smoothies, but when you add protein in, it becomes a protein smoothie, and protein can be very good for you and your health.
These smoothies are especially good for those who are hitting the gym or doing a workout. However, many of us do not know much about them.
One of the things I know I did not know about protein smoothies until I started making smoothies regularly was how healthy they are.
Every smoothie can be rated depending on how healthy they are, with some being good for you and others being very unhealthy. So, where do protein smoothies stand? Let me tell you!
What Are Protein Smoothies?
A protein smoothie is a smoothie that consists of high-protein ingredients, often protein powder.
These smoothies work fantastically as an addition to a healthy diet. However, most often you will see them being used for muscle gain by gym goers, as well as muscle recovery after hard training sessions.
They also work well in supporting weight loss if you manage your diet around them.
Protein smoothies are also known to help in weight loss diets where they are used as meal replacements. This is due to the protein in them.
Protein helps to make you feel fuller for longer. This means that you are less likely to feel like snacking, and therefore eat less as healthcentral.com states.
Protein smoothies can be useful for many reasons but their primary reason for use is their high protein content.
Are Protein Smoothies Good For You?
Whether or not protein smoothies are good for you depends on how you use them and how they are made.
If you use them sensibly, for workouts in which you will burn off the energy or calories, or as a part of a meal replacement diet then this can make protein smoothies very good for you.
However, if you simply add them to your diet as a snack, with no change to your eating habits or workout routine this could lead to weight gain as you will be consuming additional calories.
If you use protein smoothies correctly with the right diet or workout routine they can be very beneficial. These smoothies can be very good for you as they add minerals, vitamins, and key nutrients to your diet.
Protein smoothies can also be good for vegans, adding an extra dose of protein into their diet as LiveScience stated.
Of course, not everyone requires that extra dose of protein that these smoothies can add, however, if you do not get enough to meet your personal needs they can be a massive help.
You may even benefit from drinking them if you are adding extra intensity to your current exercise regime.
Do note that if you are making homemade protein shakes, choose your ingredients carefully.
Adding too many sugar syrups for example, or other processed ingredients will only make your protein smoothies less healthy.
Benefits Of Protein Smoothies
One of the best benefits of protein smoothies is that they help to keep you satiated.
But what is even better than this is how they can regulate the rate at which your body absorbs sugar.
Since your smoothie will likely also contain fruit, which has natural sugars, the protein in these smoothies can help to reduce sugar level spikes as WebMD states.
This occurs because protein slows down the rate at which your body absorbs natural sugars. Preventing your body from getting a spike in your blood sugar levels!
Protein smoothies can also aid in muscle recovery. Since our muscles are strained when we work out, they often experience micro-tears.
Protein is a critical part of our muscular makeup, and when we add it to our diets this helps to restore our muscles.
Studies have been done that show that having a dose of protein before, or after workouts increases the rate of protein synthesis in the muscles.
This can even reduce muscular pains.
Protein smoothies can aid in weight loss since they add protein to smoothies. This means they can replace other foods which may be higher in calories.
They work well in meal replacement for this reason. Protein-containing foods often contain saturated fats and are high in calories.
A protein smoothie will usually contain significantly less and therefore helps you cut back on calories while you try to lose weight.
Protein is also one of the essential nutrients that give us energy according to livescience.com.
Starting your day with a protein smoothie to replace your breakfast could give you the extra boost you need to get your day started. This is yet another reason why these smoothies are ideal for workouts too!
Is It Okay To Drink Protein Smoothies Everyday?
Protein is great for you, but be cautious as overconsumption can lead to gaining weight. If you overconsume in excess it can even lead to heart disease or kidney damage in some extreme cases as healthline.com states.
This is why experts tend to recommend that you try to get a majority of protein from the food sources you eat and then supplement with a protein powder 1-2 times per day and no more.
However, if you are active or use these smoothies as meal replacements then drinking one per day is ideal and will give you the boost you need.
Just make sure you monitor your nutrition intake and ensure you are not overconsuming protein. Proper dietary monitoring can help prevent side effects from overconsumption of any nutrient and helps you stay in good health.
Best Protein Smoothie Recipe
While you are here, reading about all the benefits of protein smoothies, why not try one of my best recipes for a protein smoothie?
This spinach protein smoothie contains no protein powder, and that doesn’t stop it from being naturally high on protein.
I hope you enjoy this green high-protein smoothie, it’s one of my favorites!
Spinach Protein Smoothie [No Protein Powder]
Equipment
- 1 Blender We used this one
Ingredients
- 2 handfuls of spinach washed
- 1/2 cup of frozen pineapple or mango
- 2 tbsp peanut butter powder
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 tbsp Greek yogurt unsweetened
- 200 ml low fat milk unsweetened
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to your blender jug.
- Process until completely smooth. For about 2-3 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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