By Tracey Hayes, ND

Everyone needs protein. Adequate protein intake is essential to maintain the body’s normal growth, muscle mass, immune system, heart and respiratory functions.

Not All Proteins Are Created Equal.
Biological value is a measure of how well our bodies use the protein we consume. Whey protein has the highest biological value of any known protein - higher than eggs, beef, chicken and soy , firmly cementing it ‘s place as number one in the protein ranks. Protein contains building blocks called amino acids and each amino acid has specific functions in the body. Protein powders rich in whey proteins and amino acids provide an outstanding supplemental source of protein for those of us who want to achieve a healthy, toned physique and maintain healthy weight.
The key to building lean muscle is regular resistance training and loads of protein. After being forced to work, muscles build up during the recovery period after a workout only if enough protein is available. The opposite is true if the body’s stores of energy and protein are running low. A high-performance protein powder will protect those hard-earned gains and may reduce the feeling of muscle soreness so common following a bout of intense exercise.
If you have a fast metabolism and find it a challenge to keep weight on look for a protein powder with added carbohydrate. The carbs further help maintain muscle growth, limit muscle breakdown and help to keep weight on. For those intense trainers and hard gainers where the body’s demand for amino acids may exceed supply, supplementing with concentrated muscle-building and recovery amino acids on top of a protein powder will speed up the process.

But I Just Want To Stay Toned!
If you’re female and have steered clear of protein powders for fear of ‘bulking up’, take comfort in knowing it’s almost impossible for most women to achieve bulging muscles without high testosterone levels coupled with intense, heavy weight workouts. For the girls, protein powders help maintain lean muscle tissue, keep you toned, increase metabolism and keep you feeling fuller for longer, without the added carbs.

Timing Is Important
Muscles are especially receptive to nutrients immediately after exercise when blood flow to the exercised muscles is still high. So aim to take a fast-digesting, amino acid enriched protein powder based on whey protein isolate (WPI) or concentrate (WPC) containing 20 to 30 grams of protein within an hour after a workout. For some, slow-release powders are beneficial for those who need to ensure the maintenance of blood amino acids in the hours after exercise to ensure muscle tissue isn’t broken down. It achieves this by providing a steady stream of nutrients over several hours from proteins that are released into the body at different rates. The slow release variety of protein powders are a good choice if you prefer to take your protein powder at night, enabling muscle growth and repair to occur while you are asleep.

If you lead a busy life with little time to prepare healthy food, a protein shake in the morning is a great and healthy way to start the day, giving your metabolism a boost, and bumping up your daily protein intake. And for a healthy, smart snacking choice, mix up a shake for a mid-morning or afternoon boost. Protein powders are practical, easy to use and a valuable addition to anyone’s health and fitness regime.

and low in energy. We can also experience nausea or queasiness after foods especially if the food is high in fat. Decreased appetite is not uncommon and we may become more susceptible to illnesses such as colds and flu’s.

A detox may initially cause some fatigue or drop in energy so it is always important to contact your nearest Healthy Life store or health care professional to help you through a program that will best suit you.