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What does protein powder do?

Author: Jay Adams

What does protein powder do?

What is protein?

Protein is one of three macronutrients your body needs daily, and in large amounts, and they provide the energy needed for bodily functions. The other two macronutrients are fat and carbohydrates, but for the purpose of this article we will focus on protein and protein powder as a supplement.

Protein is made up of smaller building blocks called amino acids. There are 20 amino acids, and the human body is capable of producing 11 of these on their own. The remaining 9 amino acids (called essential amino acids) need to be consumed through the foods we consume as the human body is unable to produce them. The 9 essential amino acids are:

• Phenylalanine
• Valine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Methionine
• Leucine
• Isoleucine
• Lysine
• Histidine

The role of protein in the human body is extremely varied but includes important functions such as:

• Repairing and building tissue 
• Making enzymes and hormones
• Supporting the strong and healthy structure of bones, hair, skin, muscles, and other tissues

While protein is not the primary energy source for humans (carbohydrates and fats take the top two spots for this) - it can be used as a last resort in a process known as gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is a metabolic process that results in the formation of glucose from a non-carbohydrate substrate (such as a protein); this means that protein and turn into a source of fuel for athletes completing strenuous activity.  

So what about protein powder?

Protein powder is a popular nutritional supplement that gives users all the benefits of protein in a cost effective, and convenient way. Not to mention that there are many ways that one can make their protein shake delicious. The specific use case of protein powder will come down to the individual user and can include cases such as: muscle growth and recovery, weight loss, added nutrition, sports performance, among others. There are also many types of protein powders that can also be used in different ways for different use cases. Some types of protein includes: whey protein, casein, pea protein, and brown rice protein.