Do I Need Protein Powders to Lose Weight?

I came across this question recently. My husband uses protein powder after exercise to help him repair his muscles. While they’re mainly used by men, there are also some women who use them.

But do you really need protein powders to lose weight? Can they help or will they just make it harder to shed the pounds?

Your body needs protein

Let me start by saying that our bodies need protein. I’ll get into that in more detail later this week, but cutting protein out of our diets is bad. The protein helps with the building of muscle and aids with losing weight because it fills us up for longer.

You can get protein from all sorts of foods. There’s no need to use protein powders really, but they can help to increase the amount you get if you don’t eat the right type of foods. There are vegetarians and vegans who can struggle to get enough protein. Those who workout a lot may find they need extra protein to help their muscles repair.

Protein powders can help you lose weight

There are some people who find protein powders useful for their weight loss journeys. The powders can help you slim down, because they help to repair the muscles. They give you some extra energy, so you push yourself a little more.

Isn’t this bad? Well, no, not really. It all depends on your body. You still need to listen to your muscles and what they’re telling you. If you feel pain or dizziness, you should stop, whether you’ve had protein shakes or not!

Do you need protein powders to lose weight?

Not necessarily. There are fitness experts who recommend that you get protein from natural sources, instead. They offer the right type of protein and will fuel your body in other ways. You’ll get the fibre, fat, and carbohydrates at the same time.

Protein powders can add extra calories to your diet. Some also have extra sugars and other ingredients that can upset the balance. You’ll need to look at the full details of any protein powder you consider adding.

Not all protein powders are bad. They can help you lose weight and build/tone your muscles. Do you need them for your weight loss? Not at all! It’s completely up to you. I recommend focusing on a healthy diet first and foremost.