Discover Protein’s Value As a Food Supplement

Are you getting enough protein? Protein powder can help fill in the gaps. Read the origin story of this fascinating supplement and explore protein powders that can help level up your wellness.

The year was 1952 when famed bodybuilder mogul Bob Hoffman delivered on an impressive idea—the first commercial protein shake. It was called the Hi-Proteen Shake, and it was made from a combination of soy protein, whey, and flavorings.^[1] It was a pivotal moment in the supplement world that brought protein off the dinner plate and into the gym.

In the decades since, protein powders have earned a reputation as an important supplement for athletes, gym-goers, and people who may not be getting enough protein from their diets.

Keep reading to explore the science of protein, how protein powders work, and discover two protein supplements that can give you the support you need to live your most powerful life.*

What Is Protein?

Proteins are vital building blocks of bone, muscle, and skin that are made from amino acids. The body needs protein to produce hormones, enzymes, and other chemicals. Proteins are necessary for a healthy immune system and required for organs like your heart and brain to function properly.^[2],[3]

 Red meat, chicken, fish, nuts, and seeds are all good sources of protein. While most people consume the recommended dietary allowance of protein (0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight), some people, like vegetarians and athletes, may not get enough protein from food alone.^[4] That’s where protein powders can come into play.

Types of Protein Powders

 Are you curious about how protein powders are made? Here’s how most of them go from the lab to your smoothie:

 Protein is extracted from animal or plant-based sources, like cow’s milk, eggs, peas, rice, or soy. Naturally occurring carbohydrates, fats, minerals, and fiber are removed, while nutrients, herbs, and sweeteners are sometimes added. Then it’s dried into an easy-to-scoop powder that can be mixed into your favorite beverage.^[5]

 There are three main types of protein powders: whey and casein, collagen, and plant-based.

●      Whey and casein proteins are animal-based protein powders made from dairy. They are categorized as high-quality proteins because they contain all the essential amino acids you need from food that your body can’t make on its own. Whey and casein proteins contain the same types of protein found in cow’s milk and are dried into a powder to make them concentrated and convenient to consume.^[6] 

●      Collagen protein is the most abundant protein in your body. In fact, collagen accounts for nearly 30% of your body’s total protein. When crafted as a powdered supplement, it utilizes animal-based proteins made from the connective tissues of cows, fish, or chickens. It’s turned into a powder through a similar process and easily dissolves into beverages.^[7]

●      Plant-based proteins like soy, hemp, rice, and pea proteins are common in vegan protein powders. Many plant-based protein powders contain a combination of several sources in order to diversify the amino acids so that they can be considered a “complete” protein. A complete protein contains all 20 amino acids, including the nine essential amino acids the body cannot produce on its own.^[8]