Protein/Supplements

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS do you need? Choosing the right supplements to support your needs and lifestyle is confusing. We're bombarded with different nutrition philosophies and opinions when it comes to supplements, by the media, and people in our lives. Yet the questions remain: "Do I need to take supplements?" "What supplements are right for me?" "If I'm eating healthy, do I need to take supplements at all?"

FOOD FIRST

It's True: food sources, like fresh fruit and vegetables, are the best way to get your vitamins and minerals — not supplements. Unfortunately, most of us don't eat enough nutrient-rich foods to meet the recommended amounts. When this is the case, including an appropriate supplement in your diet can help get you there. However, certain conditions — such as how much sun you get, your age, and your activity level — contribute to your potential need for a nutritional supplement. If something is causing you to need more of a specific nutrient, then supplementation is a great way to help. Omega-3, Vitamin D, and a multivitamin are the supplements you're most likely to benefit from, even if you're very dedicated to healthy eating.

WHERE SHOULD I GET PROTEIN?

While many animal-based protein sources (like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy) contain the amino acids that your body needs, that doesn’t mean they are the only way to get your protein. Whole grains, legumes, vegetables, seeds, and nuts are great sources of plant-based protein to incorporate into your diet.

Some other good sources of protein include beans, seeds (hemp, chia, flax), tree nuts, quinoa, avocado, and raw, leafy greens.

Many people also rely on protein supplementation as part of their dietary protein intake. These supplements are often found in powder form, and come from various sources including whey, casein, pea, soy, hemp, and more. Though it’s important to prioritize consuming your protein through the foods you eat whenever possible, supplementation is a great way to ensure you’re consuming enough protein on a consistent basis.

WHEY PROTEIN: is generally the most popular type of protein powder due to its complete amino acid profile. This broad amino acid profile provides your body with all nine essential amino acids and is digested quickly to help repair your muscles faster – making whey great for post-workout muscle regeneration and recovery. Whey protein does tend to be more popular with athletes and individuals who are looking to build muscle mass. If you’re an athlete looking to take a whey protein supplement, we recommend choosing one that is NSF Certified for Sport.

This certification program was developed to meet the growing demands of athletes, coaches, and all those concerned about banned substances in sports supplements. This program minimizes the risk that a supplement or sports nutrition product contains substances banned by a major sports organization. NSF tests and certifies that these products contain the identity and quantity of dietary ingredients declared on the product label, and do not contain unacceptable quantities of unwanted contaminants.

Whey is made from processed cow’s milk in order to isolate and extract the protein content.