Smoothie Recipes
Why You Should Use Protein Powder
Protein powder is one of my favorite nutritional tools that I use daily. There are so many positives that can come from a good quality protein powder.
Your body uses protein in a few key ways. To make a protein molecule effective, it needs to be broken down into its individual components, called Amino acids. Imagine a brick wall, now zoom in a bit and you’ll see that someone had to assemble that wall with individual bricks and mortar. This is similar to how your body works to repair your tissues.
Amino acids have a few key roles in your body, such as:
Neurotransmitters– the things that keep your brain in communication with your body.
Enzymes– the things that help break down your food and speed up biological reactions.
Growth and repair– Protein and amino acids are required to help repair your tissues from damage that they incur, as well as to help speed up recovery from injury and general wear and tear. Think about your skin for a second; you lose about 30-40,000 skin cells per day. Those all need to be repaired on a daily basis.
Bone structure– Yes, amino acids help with bone growth and repair as well.
Protein powders can be an excellent way to get protein into your diet or bump up the amount of protein that your get in a day.
When I look for a protein powder, I look for a few things:
Does it have artificial sweeteners? Personally, I do not do well with artificial sweeteners; they give me headaches almost instantly, so I try and avoid them at all costs.
Does it have a lot of sugar? I like a bit of sugar, but I want it from natural sources. Monk fruit, stevia, or real sugar is fine in small amounts for me.
What is the source of the protein? I like plant based and beef-based proteins the best. Dairy sources (whey) I do not do well with personally, but there are some great clean versions of whey out there which I will mention below.
When you are looking for a protein powder ask yourself these questions:
What do I want this protein to do?
Uses: fuel my body, help me repair, replace a meal, support my mood, increase my protein for the day, act as a solid base for my smoothie, use it in other recipes to help increase my protein, etc.
When will you be taking the protein?
Morning smoothie (blended)
Mid day shake (put powder in a cup and shake it up)
After a workout (put in a shaker cup and shake it up)
To replace a meal that I miss during the day (processed in a blender or shaken in a cup)
After work or before bed snack.
Do you do well with Dairy when you eat it?
Yes
No
Do you follow a Vegetarian or Vegan kind of diet?
Yes
No
Being clear on when and how you will use the protein, and why you will need it will help you to narrow down the focus of what kind of protein you may need.
My Favorites Protein Powders:
Pure Paleo Protein
I use this one the most. PurePaleo™ Protein is great-tasting, dairy-free protein powder, yielding 21 g of protein per serving. It contains HydroBEEF™, a highly concentrated, pure beef protein, produced through an exclusive proprietary process that allows the protein to be broken down into more peptides, resulting in easier absorption and assimilation. This product contains beef from animals raised in Sweden without hormones or antibiotics, and is free of any GMO grains and grasses. This is an ideal protein for those who want a true Paleo protein source, or want the power of beef to build muscle, cartilage and ligaments, and those who are dairy sensitive.
Pure Paleo Complete
Pure PaleoComplete is a nutrient-dense meal supplement with complete protein, healthy fats, a very low glycemic impact, and nutrients predominantly in their bioidentical forms. It also features HydroBEEF™, a highly concentrated pure bone broth protein isolate sourced from animals raised in Sweden without hormones, and fed a diet entirely free of GMO grains, grasses. The protein is produced through an exclusive hydrolysis process that enables the protein to be hydrolyzed or ‘split’ into a high concentration of functional peptides.
Benefits of Pure Paleo Protein / Pure Paleo Complete: Both work extremely well if you are blending the protein with other ingredients, and if you are not going to throw it in a shaker cup and drink it. If you are making a smoothie, and want the best, grab these ones!
Whey Cool
Whey Cool is made with an exceptional quality, native whey protein concentrate. This whey is produced using minimal processing, and maintains the full range of all the fragile immune-boosting and regenerative components naturally present in fresh raw milk. It comes from cows that graze on pesticide-free, chemical-free natural grass pastures, and which are never given hormones, genetically modified organisms, or injected pathogens. The result is the highest quality protein supplement, rich in immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, and free of artificial flavors and sweeteners.
Benefit of Whey Cool: If you are wanting to pack on a bit of muscle and help repair some layers of your GUT, they Whey Complete is the WHEY to go (pun intended).
Pure Pea
PurePea™, a natural pea protein isolate, offers a high level of functionality and nutritional benefits. PurePea™ is a true vegan protein which has high bioavailability and excellent digestibility. The raw materials are not genetically modified and are produced with a natural fermentation process, which uses no chemical solvents.
Benefits of Pure Pea: If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and still want to get a quality protein powder to deliver that punch of protein, this one is great.
Whole Body Collagen
Whole Body Collagen contains a unique blend of three patented collagen peptides supported by clinical research showing their efficacy for supporting collagen production, bone strength, joint health and integrity, skin elasticity and more.
Collagen is a special type of protein that accounts for as much as 30% of the body’s total protein. In particular, it’s a primary structural component of connective tissue. The amino acid composition of dietary collagens are very similar to those in human collagens, making dietary collagen peptides ideal for supporting normal body collagen turnover and renewal.
Whole Body Collagen can be incorporated into shakes, smoothies, and other foods and beverages, making it a convenient way to ensure adequate intake of collagen’s unique amino acids.
Benefit of Whole Body Collagen: Collagen helps with hair, skin and nails as well as helps repair cartilage. Use Whole body collagen in your coffee, smoothie, water, juice, or in another recipe like overnight oats or homemade granola bars.
Vege Cleanse
VegeCleanse™ contains a natural pea protein isolate to fuel natural detoxification pathways. It includes the nutrients needed to support and balance phase I and II metabolic pathways, high levels of antioxidants for safe detoxification and a comprehensive array of herbal hepatics and cholagogues to promote healthy liver function and elimination. VegeCleanse™ has a pleasant berry-vanilla flavour, a wonderful, smooth texture (mouth feel), and mixes easily in any beverage.
Benefit of Vege Cleanse: Starting a detox program or wanting to help repair your mood quickly? Choose Vege Cleanse!
If you need more information on any of these protein powders or other protein products, email me and I would be happy to help you out!
MK