protein – Your Shape Your Life

You may have heard of protein powder for weight loss and are perhaps wondering if it works. With health nut celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow pushing protein shakes as a way to lose weight, you might think you are missing the boat if you don’t try it. However, the use of protein powder for weight loss is actually a bit controversial. Does it help you lose weight? Protein powder for weight loss works when you use it as a meal replacement (not for every meal) or add it to certain foods to fill you up before eating too much. However, if you eat too much of it without exercising, it won’t help you lose weight at all – you will just gain weight. Protein powder is just a tool for weight loss, but it will not replace reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise. Tips on Buying Protein Powder for Weight Loss For the ultimate in weight loss support, look for protein powders that just contain the protein in them without any extras. Otherwise, you might end up with a lot of extra calories in the form of sugars, flavorings, and fiber to add bulk to the protein powder. If you do get a protein powder that has some additional ingredients, make sure it doesn’t come with a lot of added sugar. Also, some have artificial sweeteners that may not agree with you. So make sure you check the label before buying. We have included both plain protein powders and some that you mix with additional ingredients below. Simple Protein Powder Recipes Some of the protein powders below simply need to be mixed with water or any type of milk (such as cow milk or almond milk). Or, make your own smoothie: 1. Kale Power Smoothie Take a handful of kale, an apple, and half a cucumber and mix it with some protein powder and either water or your favorite milk (plant or cow). If this is still too bitter, then try adding a banana. You can add a sweetener such as Stevia or honey to taste. 2. Berry Protein Smoothie Throw some frozen mixed berries in a blender with your favorite protein powder and then add water or your favorite milk. Include a banana if you want a thicker shake. Once again, add a sweetener such as Stevia or honey to taste. 3. Melon Protein Smoothie Take your favorite melons such as honeydew or cantaloupe and mix them in a blender with a banana and your favorite protein powder. Add sweetener of your choice. 10 Types of Protein Powder for Weight Loss If you are looking for protein powder for weight loss, you might want to try some of these options: 1. Source Organic - Premium Pea Protein Isolate - 100% Vegan and Organic - UNFLAVORED - Bulk 2lbs This pea protein powder is a good vegan option that has no added flavors, sugars, or colors. It consists merely of organic yellow pea protein isolate. (This is a protein that comes from peas.) A single serving has 22 grams of protein. It has an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars in its reviews on Amazon. Here is a review from one satisfied customer: “I love this protein powder! I searched and searched for a pea protein powder that was a) organic, b) not Chinese, c) have no added sweeteners or other ingredients, and d) doesn't come in a 10 lb. bag! You can benefit from my time-consuming search. This powder is fantastic. It blends in my smoothies so well and makes them creamy, never powdery. It has a slightly nutty flavor. But basically it lets your other ingredients be front and center.” Others report that it is easily digestible for people who have skittish stomachs and digestive tracts. 2. Nutiva Organic Hemp Protein – 16 oz. Sustainably Grown Canadian Hempseed, –Cold-Processed Seed from Non GMO (50% Protein). Organic Hemp Protein Hemp is a favorite of the health food world, and this hemp protein powder is an excellent organic option. It is listed as “Amazon’s Choice” on the Amazon website, which means it has met certain quality metrics from Amazon. This particular type of protein comes from nutrient-dense hemp seed. It is an appropriate protein powder for people on restricted diets, especially those who want to avoid gluten, dairy, and grains. Thus, this protein powder made from hemp is an excellent choice for people on the following diets: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, paleo, keto, raw, and whole food. The one downside of this protein powder is the flavor. Here is how one reviewer summarizes it: “For those thinking they are going to really dig the flavor on this, nope! It's rope! Rope pushes crap through your body, leaves some protein behind, and that's what it does for you. It isn't blueberries, and it isn't sweet and tasty.” 3. Designer Whey Premium Natural 100% Whey Protein, Purely Unflavored, 2 Pound This is whey powder so it is not dairy-free. Though they promise that the cow’s milk comes from Midwest farms where they raise cows without antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. It is also gluten-free, kosher certified, and free of GMO ingredients (genetically modified foods). This whey protein powder is only 110 calories per serving, with only 2 grams of sugar. It does have some added ingredients, including probiotics, an electrolyte blend, and a B vitamin blend. (Do be careful with B vitamin blends. Vitamin B6 can be toxic and damage the nervous system at high doses. And this protein powder delivers 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin B). This whey powder is a good value: One of the customers labels it “the frugal hipster's choice for protein!” 4. Great Lakes Gelatin - Collagen Hydrolysate Kosher - Unflavored Protein - 16 oz If you are not a vegetarian and want some additional support for your joints and cartilage, Great Lakes Gelatin is potentially a good protein supplement to take. It is a fine powder that is tasteless and dissolves into your food or drink quickly. This powder is not a vegetarian option because they make the gelatin from animal skin and bones. One reviewer reported that after using this protein powder for a while, her white hair started getting darker. And her natural hair color started coming back in. The downside of this supplement is that it has glutamine in it. This can be problematic for people who have reactions to MSG (monosodium glutamate) or have glutamine sensitivity. This protein powder might also aggravate people with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). You should try a little bit of it first before going full hog on it if you are unsure. 5. Pure Food: The Healthiest Plant Based Protein Powder with Probiotics | Organic, Clean, All Natural, Vegan, Vegetarian, Whole Superfood Allergen Free Ingredients | Vanilla Bean, 512 Gram This plant-based protein powder is not a pure protein powder. But, if you are looking for an excellent healthy mix with some flavoring, this is a good one to try. The vegan protein in this powder is a combination of brown rice, pea, and hemp. Additional ingredients include organic mesquite, organic lucuma powder, organic stevia leaf, and organic vanilla. This product also comes with 1 billion CFUs of research-backed probiotics. It has no gluten, dairy, soy, corn, or added sugar. 6. PlantFusion Lean Plant Based Weight Loss Protein Powder, Vanilla Bean, 29.06 oz Tub, 20 Servings, 1 Count, Gluten Free, Vegan, Non-GMO This supplement is another protein powder mix that has added ingredients. We recommend using a simple protein powder without added ingredients. And we think you should try this blend to make your own shake if you want a ready-made mix that will serve as a meal replacement. Reviewers have claimed it has helped them lose weight. Here is the full list of ingredients: “PlantFusion Lean Amino Acid Infused Protein Blend: (Ecolean Pea Protein Isolate, Algae Protein, Fermented & Sprouted Organic Millet, Organic Lentil, Organic Flax and Organic Chia), Providing 4,710 mg of BCAAs (L-Leucine, L-Isoleucine, and L-Valine) and 3,400 mg of Glutamic Acid. Fiber and Blood Sugar Support: Inulin, Organic Acacia, ChromeMate, and Banaba Leaf Extract (Lagerstroemia speciose) [Standardized to 18% Corosolic Acid]. Superfood Energy Blend: Wild Harvested Acai, Baobab, Mangosteen, ModCarb (Organic Oat Bran, Organic Amaranth, Organic Quinoa, Organic Buckwheat, Organic Millet & Organic Chia), Organic VitaBerry (Organic Strawberry, Organic Raspberry, Organic Blueberry, Organic Tart Cherry, Organic Pomegranate & Organic Cranberry), Organic VitaVeggie (Organic Broccoli, Organic Broccoli Sprouts, Organic Tomato, Organic Carrot, Organic Spinach & Organic Kale). It also includes proprietary Probiotic, Digestive Enzyme Blend: Lactospore (Bacillus coagulans) 1 Billion Activity, Alpha Galactosidase, and Bromelain. Other Ingredients: Vanilla and Natural Flavors, Sunflower Oil, Erythritol, Stevia, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Glycine, and Lo Han Guo.” 7. NLA for Her - Her Whey - Ultimate Lean Whey Isolate Protein - 28g of Lean Protein, Added Amino Acids for Recovery, Builds Muscle, & Helps Curb Appetite - Chocolate Éclair - 2 Lb Tub The company that makes this whey protein powder supplement specializes in women’s nutritional supplements. They design it really for athletic women, such as female bodybuilders, who want to work on building up lean body mass. However, it can also be used for meal replacement or to help curb food cravings. The company says the following about this product: “For too long women have had to choose between soft, weak vegan-based supplements or Men’s sports supplements that can be too strong.” The chocolate eclair flavor is apparently quite light and almost cinnamon-like. While this is sugar-free, this product does contain sucralose as a sugar replacement. And some people are allergic to sucralose. 8. Just Protein by IronMind This supplement is another Amazon’s Choice selection. Just Protein from IronMind bills as a “classic” protein powder made from milk and eggs. They have also flavored it with vanilla almond. The combination of milk and egg protein is supposed to be slow to digest, providing a consistent source of energy for the body. This powder has no added sweeteners, whether sugar or artificial. Some reviewers comment that this is the only protein powder they can take that does not upset their stomach. 9. Less Naked Whey Vanilla Protein – All Natural Grass Fed Whey Protein Powder + Vanilla + Coconut Sugar- 5lb Bulk, GMO-Free, Soy Free, Gluten Free. Aid Muscle Growth & Recovery - 61 Servings This simple whey protein powder product called “Less Naked Whey Vanilla Protein” has just three ingredients: 100% Grass Fed Pure Whey Protein, Vanilla, and Organic Coconut Sugar. The term “grass-fed” refers to the cows and how they are raised and fed. The source of the whey is small dairy farms in the United States. The whey is cold processed. This action keeps it from being contaminated by heavy metals, potentially toxic chemical detergents, or synthetic additives. 10. Sprout Living Simple Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder, 19 Grams Cold-Pressed Organic Plant Protein, Vegan, Gluten Free, No Dairy, No Additives (1 pound, 16 servings) You probably did not know you can get pumpkin seed protein, but here it is. This supplement is also a cold-pressed protein power that is GMO-free, gluten-free, and soy-free. It has zero additives such as gums, thickeners, or flavoring. This powder is an excellent vegan alternative for people who don’t want pea protein or soy protein. Some health professionals and writers believe that whole proteins, which contain the whole food, are better than protein isolates, which is what happens when you remove whey from milk. Basically, the protein source is just pumpkin seeds ground up. This supplement is a little pricey. And you could get the same benefits from eating pumpkin seeds perhaps. But it is an alternative to the typical types of protein out there. Protein Powder for Weight Loss As you can see, there are many different types of protein powder for weight loss you can use. Just find one you like and enjoy!