It doesn’t matter if you’re getting intense full-body workouts in at the gym, you have a casual relationship with your treadmill or you just want to eat healthier: Getting the right amount of protein in your diet is paramount. Since the human body is about 17 percent protein, replenishing that stock day to day should be a priority. The most obvious way to get your daily fill of protein is to eat whole foods like chicken, fish and other meats — but then there are vegans, vegetarians and those of us who don’t have time to cook a steak or grill chicken at every meal.
That’s where the protein powder makes the best case for itself. When you don’t have time to make a full meal, either first thing in the morning, right after a workout or just before bed, a protein smoothie can get you the nutrients you need. The tricky thing is that the supplements market is regulated by the FDA under a different set of rules than conventional food, so it’s important to know what ingredients you’re about put in your body. A general rule of thumb is that if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t be eating it; all-natural is the way to go.
Additonal contribtuion by Michael Finn.
18 grams of plant-based protein per serving. It’s made with real vanilla bean and cinnamon, perfect for sweetening a morning cup of coffee. $33
Naked Nutrition Vanilla Whey Protein $90
25 grams of protein per serving. Only three ingredients: grass-fed whey, natural vanilla and organic coconut sugar. Not quite as flavorful as the non-natural stuff, but still great for fruit smoothies.
