What To Consider When Buying Organic Protein Powder

By Earlene McGee


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.

Even with those warnings, supplemental proteins can be a useful addition for younger people who are still growing, and benefit those starting a new exercise regimen or increasing the intensity of an existing workout. Individuals suffering serious injury may need extra support while recovering, and the protein is ideal for some vegetarians. People who must avoid dairy products can also use vegetable-based powders.

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.

Because people vote against pesticides and synthetic fertilizers with their checkbooks, supermarket sales of organic produce and meat products have gone mainstream, and are no longer limited to health food stores. To receive official certification, foods must be raised, harvested, and produced in accordance with USDA guidelines and regulations. In theory, those same standards must also be applied to the ingredients that make up powdered proteins.

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.

Those with food allergies or gluten intolerance find organic products to be a generally safer choice, and consider them worth the additional cost. In an increasingly degraded environment, buying these products encourages more sustainable practices. Today there are more supplemental powder choices than ever before, making it even more important to be aware of the ingredients before buying.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire