Our muscles are made of protein, and in order for us to build bigger muscles, we need to ensure that we are taking in sufficient amounts of this nutrient.
While most people go about building muscle by eating a protein rich diet, others prefer to supplement their diet with protein powder.
But where exactly do you start with protein powder? How exactly are you supposed to know which protein powder will promote the most with muscle gain?
With so many options on the market, and so much skepticism surrounding the effectiveness of protein powder, it becomes difficult to make your final choice.
Thankfully, I am here today to give you all the information needed to find the protein powder that will give you big guns.
How To Choose The Best Protein Powder For Building Muscle
There are numerous factors that you need to take into consideration before you make your final protein powder decision, and I will detail those factors below.
Types
There are numerous options on the market, including whey protein, casein protein, egg white protein, plant protein, beef protein, and even protein blends. The first protein powder is whey protein, which accounts for 20% of total milk protein.
Whey is a quickly digestible protein powder, with an excellent amino acid profile. This protein should be taken before your workout, in order to give you all the energy you need to power through your routines.
Next we have casein protein, which accounts for 80% of total milk protein. Like whey protein it has an excellent amino acid profile; however it is slow to digest. This protein is therefore most effective outside of the pre and post workout window.
We also have plant protein, which includes soy protein, pea protein, and rice protein. These vegetable protein sources are a good source for essential amino acids, and they are also the best choices for vegetarians, vegans and lactose intolerant individuals. These plant protein powders have rich amounts of minerals and vitamins, which help with your muscle gain.
Additionally, you have the option for going with an egg white protein powder, which is low in carbs and in fat. This protein powder was the most popular type prior to the introduction of milk proteins like whey and casein. If you are looking to lower you cholesterol and would like to stay away from dairy products, egg white is the way to go.
Continually, we have beef protein, which is perfect for those seeking a non-plant and non-dairy protein powder. This protein powder is popular among athletes and bodybuilders who are looking for increased muscles mass and strength.
Lastly, you can go with a protein blend, which is a combination of multiple types of proteins e.g. whey protein, casein protein, soy protein, and egg protein. This blend allows you to receive all the benefits of the aforementioned proteins, making protein blends the strongest protein powders available. If you are looking for optimum muscle gain, then go with a blend.
P.S. You should not use a blend in the window before or after workout.
Enhancements
You will find that several manufacturers add extra ingredients in order to boost the taste or nutritional value of a protein powder. One of these enhancements includes lecithin granules, which is a healthy fat that works to improve how the protein powder mixes. These granules can also be added to you protein shake, for cardiovascular and memory enhancing advantages.
Other enhancements that you might come across include lactase and Aminogen digestive enzymes, which increase absorption of the protein. Furthermore, we have the addition of amino acids, which makes the protein powder more nutritious.
You should note that when enhancements like carbs, nutritional fats, vitamins and minerals are added to protein powder, the powder becomes a muscle gainer or meal replacement.
Flavors and Sweeteners
As I mentioned above, manufacturers sometimes add ingredients into your protein powder. Flavors and sweeteners are popular additions, as most proteins like soy do not have a pleasant taste. When selecting your protein powder you will comes across hundreds of flavor/sweetener options, and your final choice will be based upon your preferences.
There are 3 main types of protein powders in this category, including powders without any flavors or sweeteners, powders with only natural flavors and sweeteners, and powders with artificial flavors and sweeteners. The flavors and sweeteners only impact the taste of the protein powder, and will not increase or decrease the nutritional value.
Cost
Last but not least, you will need to factor in the cost of the protein powders. Most protein powders are similarly priced, meaning that it is easy to compare the prices of single-protein powders. However, you might meet some difficulty when comparing protein blends, as these have unique mixtures.
My advice to you would be to determine the type of protein powder you would like, before you factor in the cost. Additionally, you can ask for free samples before you make your initial purchase, so that you can know whether a particular powder will help you with your muscle gain.
Furthermore, you should look at buying small servings at first, so that you know which protein powder is best suited to your muscle building needs. Once you know which protein powder works best for you, go with the largest size available as this gives you best value for your money. It’s just like buying in bulk, the initial payment is high, but in the long term you will have saved money.
Conclusion
If you are looking to build your muscle, then protein powder might be the way to go. Using the buying guide above you now know what to look out for during your shopping, so that you can find the protein powder which helps build the biggest muscles. Good luck to you!
