Even though most people will never develop the musculature of a dedicated bodybuilder, protein supplements can be very useful for increasing endurance and strength. They have become increasingly popular with individuals who consistently exercise and have set specific physical goals for personal progress. Organic protein powder is a logical choice for many health-conscious consumers, and is a rapidly growing segment of the nutrition industry.
Commonly consumed in smoothie or shake form, the substance is most often made from soy, milk, whey, casein, eggs, or rice. There is no special equipment needed to mix them. Their portability makes drinking them at work simple, their lower calorie formulas are helpful to people trying to shed pounds, and they are digested easily. They help restore muscles after heavy exercise, and are marketed primarily to active, younger individuals.
Nutritionists have repeatedly advised against using them as a regular substitute for actual food, primarily because most people already get ample supplies of protein. Long-term, exclusive use or inadvertent over-reliance is never recommended, and in some cases can result in deficiencies of other key nutrients. Taken to the extreme, excess consumption can damage bones and organs, and has been implicated in some types of cancer.
In reality, most people never approach that level of consumption, and supplemental proteins can be beneficial for young adults who are still growing, as well as producing positive results for people beginning an exercise program, or upping the intensity of their regular workout. Accident victims find them a useful adjunct during recovery, and vegetarians or lactose-intolerant people find vegetable-based supplements ideal.
For product makers, the next step in development was the incorporation of organically grown and produced ingredients. This industry has been notoriously criticized for a lack of regulation regarding ingredients, and still enjoys few governmental controls compared to other food products. The word organic is freely used in advertising because it sounds attractive, but in reality pesticide-free products have become very important to consumers.
People want food raised without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and supermarket sales of organically grown meat and produce are no longer limited to high-priced outlets. To be certified, a food must be produced in accordance with USDA regulations governing initial production, handling after harvest, and in the end result of processing. Those standards may also apply to some ingredients used in powdered supplements.
Informed consumers are learning to ignore attractive advertising phraseology, and to pay more attention to ingredient labels before buying. Simply stating that a commercial product is pure and ethically made does not somehow turn it into a naturally occurring food, even when it has well-documented benefits. The label automatically increases the cost of supermarket items, as well as nutritional supplements.
People struggling with a gluten intolerance or potentially deadly food allergy find natural products to be less risky personally, and worth the added costs. Other people prefer products that do not encourage degradation of an already-stressed natural environment. There are more supplemental powders available now than ever, and carefully checking the ingredients before buying is time well spent.
Commonly consumed in smoothie or shake form, the substance is most often made from soy, milk, whey, casein, eggs, or rice. There is no special equipment needed to mix them. Their portability makes drinking them at work simple, their lower calorie formulas are helpful to people trying to shed pounds, and they are digested easily. They help restore muscles after heavy exercise, and are marketed primarily to active, younger individuals.
Nutritionists have repeatedly advised against using them as a regular substitute for actual food, primarily because most people already get ample supplies of protein. Long-term, exclusive use or inadvertent over-reliance is never recommended, and in some cases can result in deficiencies of other key nutrients. Taken to the extreme, excess consumption can damage bones and organs, and has been implicated in some types of cancer.
In reality, most people never approach that level of consumption, and supplemental proteins can be beneficial for young adults who are still growing, as well as producing positive results for people beginning an exercise program, or upping the intensity of their regular workout. Accident victims find them a useful adjunct during recovery, and vegetarians or lactose-intolerant people find vegetable-based supplements ideal.
For product makers, the next step in development was the incorporation of organically grown and produced ingredients. This industry has been notoriously criticized for a lack of regulation regarding ingredients, and still enjoys few governmental controls compared to other food products. The word organic is freely used in advertising because it sounds attractive, but in reality pesticide-free products have become very important to consumers.
People want food raised without the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and supermarket sales of organically grown meat and produce are no longer limited to high-priced outlets. To be certified, a food must be produced in accordance with USDA regulations governing initial production, handling after harvest, and in the end result of processing. Those standards may also apply to some ingredients used in powdered supplements.
Informed consumers are learning to ignore attractive advertising phraseology, and to pay more attention to ingredient labels before buying. Simply stating that a commercial product is pure and ethically made does not somehow turn it into a naturally occurring food, even when it has well-documented benefits. The label automatically increases the cost of supermarket items, as well as nutritional supplements.
People struggling with a gluten intolerance or potentially deadly food allergy find natural products to be less risky personally, and worth the added costs. Other people prefer products that do not encourage degradation of an already-stressed natural environment. There are more supplemental powders available now than ever, and carefully checking the ingredients before buying is time well spent.