Are Protein Supplements Necessary?

The whole world seems to be obsessed with this question. Getting a straight answer to it is difficult. Protein requirements of every individual vary and are based on multiple factors, and this makes the answer difficult.

Protein supplements are actually products that promote nutrient delivery, provided that diet and exercises are already taken care of.  So, if you take a healthy wholesome meal and exercise regularly, then your diet would easily take care of your overall protein requirements. However, the need of protein increases in multiples, when there are associated physical or lifestyle-connected conditions. For instance, a person in the recovery phase after a fracture or a surgery, a teenager, a pregnant woman or a person with heavy-weight training schedule would require additional protein. This is where protein supplements become crucial.  Please bear in mind that taking protein supplements is, as the name suggests, supplementary and NOT an alternative to the actual arrangement, which as mentioned earlier, is the symphonic balance between diet, exercise and lifestyle.

The decision about taking additional protein is tied to the type, intensity and duration of your workouts.  An individual involved in heavy-weight training requires more protein than a less active person.  And so he obviously qualifies to be on protein supplements. Heavy-workout results in tired and starved muscles that need quick recovery.  Whey-based protein supplements are best suited to such muscles, as they would directly reach the target and act on them. Dietary proteins are complex and take longer time to get into the system. Also, as dietary proteins are complex and have other components like fiber and invisible fat, they interfere with normal blood flow to working muscle group. They also inhibit waste removal from damaged muscle tissue. Thus, taking protein-rich foods like pulses, meat, soy, eggs etc., would delay the recovery of muscles after heavy workout.

One does not necessarily need protein supplements to be fit, but they become important when you push your body a little further and take up to exercising earnestly.  After all, who wants tired and worn-out muscles after a heavy physical activity?