Supplement Review – Protein Powder
Most athlete’s currently use or have used a protein powder as part of their diet. They are so popular now that you can pick up a giant tub at just about any store that sells food. The problem is that most of the brands that you find on the shelves are full of junk and fillers. If you look at the ingredients list of a typical protein powder, you are likely to find a protein source that comes from either cows (whey) or soy. I covered the problems with cow milk in a post earlier this year (Top 5 Lies About Food). As for soy, over 90% of the soy grown in the United States is genetically modified (GMO) and naturally contains some potentially harmful toxins. Along with the protein source, the ingredients list is likely to contain multiple forms of artificial sweeteners. If you are not aware of how harmful these are, check out my post on sugar (No Sugar November).
So what SHOULD you look for in a good protein powder? Something that doesn’t contain potential allergens like dairy, soy and gluten. Something that is GMO free and USDA Organic certified. One that is sweetened with plants found in nature (cinnamon, vanilla, stevia). As a bonus, Garden of Life Organic Plant Protein contains Branch Chain Amino Acids and live probiotics and enzymes.
After my morning workouts, I blend the Smooth Vanilla flavored powder with unsweetened coconut milk, a few leaves of baby spinach, an avocado, chia seeds, flax seeds and a few frozen berries for a smoothie with a creamy texture and enough nutrients and calories to last me through the morning until lunch.
If you want to try this out for yourself, just enter the contest below. I’m including a 10 serving bag in my supplement giveaway!
Click below to see the several different ways you can enter the giveaway. Some are worth more points than others, and you can even do a couple of them multiple times to increase your chances of winning. Good luck!
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I plan on maintaining my current exercise routine (I try to work out at least 45-60 minutes daily), but I want to improve my eating habits. I tend to snack a lot at night, so I have to get better at making dinner. I’d love to start adding a smoothie with protein powder post-workout, too.