The variety of people interested in protein shakes never ceases to surprise me. Immediately, you think about the “gym bro” whose closet is void sleeves, but in reality, there is no archetype for protein shake users.

All sorts of people, young and old, active and sedentary, consume protein shakes and for a variety of goals. Maybe you’re a top tier athlete looking to get the most of your body, or perhaps it was your first plunge into fitness because someone you admire left the gym shaking that transparent bottle.

Regardless of the goal at hand, it’s hard not to respect the gumption of someone who’s willing to actually implement change to better themselves. It’s also relevant because a vast many supplements out there are complete crap. However, protein powder is by and large a safe, “un-crappy” use of your money.

Don’t get me wrong; there are some odd reasons to use protein powder. If you’re interested in why you shouldn’t use protein powder, check out my last article here.

Today though, we’ll focus on the bright side. Besides, we can all use a dose of positivity right about now. So here it is: why you should be using protein powder.

Hitting a Protein Target

Consuming a diet high in protein is important for you, for me, for everyone.

If you’ve stumbled upon my writing because you’re looking to gain amounts of muscle and strength, consuming enough protein is paramount. But even if you don’t care about those (very important) things, a diet high in protein is more satiating than a diet low in protein. Why should you care? Well, by keeping protein intake consistently moderate-high, you lessen your risk of chronically overeating and thus avoiding unhealthy weight gain.

Personally, I consume about .8-1 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day. For me, this looks like roughly 160-220g depending on how much “extra” I have sitting around my mid-section. I don’t have much trouble any longer hitting this target with whole foods, but if you find yourself being challenged to hit whatever your target range is, a protein shake can be quite handy. Which leads me to the next reason…

Convenience

Convenience is by far the greatest reason to consume a protein supplement. Simply the convenience of having a bolus of protein whenever needed is an unparalleled benefit.

As the world slowly returns to normalcy, so too will our daily schedules. This may include working on location instead of from home, exercising at the gym instead of the living room or spending an increased amount of time in transit from one place to another.

It’s easy to perfect your protein habits (maybe not your overeating habits) when quarantine forces you to spend your days ten feet from the refrigerator, but the convenience of protein supplements cannot be overstated as lives become busier.

Cost Effectiveness

Last but certainly not least is the cost of protein supplements. Sure, cost does vary pretty widely depending on the refinement of ingredients, but it’s rare to find any scoop of protein powder exceeding two dollars, and this is on the high end.

I don’t typically recommend replacing whole food meals with protein shakes but they can be a cost-effective way of snacking throughout the day, especially if you’re trying to get bigger or stronger.

There you have it. If you enjoy content like this, please consider subscribing to the blog in addition to spreading via word of mouth.

Though social and in some cases professional climates are uncertain, health is something we largely can control midway through 2020.