Protein powders and meal replacement protein powders are often located on the same shelves at gyms and health supplies stores and have strikingly similar packaging and labels. Because of this, it’s no wonder one of the most frequent questions gyms and health supply stores receive is, “What is the difference between protein powders and meal replacement protein powders?” Learning the differences between protein powder and meal replacement protein powder can help you learn more about how protein is beneficial to your body and when it’s suggested to consume either of the two.

The main difference between protein powders and meal replacement protein powders are the ingredients. Typically, a straight protein powder is mainly going to contain whey protein. Protein powders don’t tend to have a lot of vitamins or minerals that typically are suggested for a well-balanced meal as they are meant to be consumed in addition to a well-balanced meal, instead of replacing one. Protein powders alone do not include enough vitamins, carbohydrates or fiber to sustain energy in our bodies the way solid healthy foods can.

Protein powders therefore, are suggested to be consumed directly following a workout or before bed. Eating is suggested within 30-45 minutes after a workout, but there isn’t always time to get home and make a healthy meal within that timeframe. Having protein powder allows the body to consume amino acids that can begin muscle repair to your torn up muscles that were worked during your exercise. While a balanced meal is still suggested within 3-4 hours after a workout, having a scoop of protein powder for ladies and two for men, allows the quickest route to get the amino acids working on repairing your muscles.

Having protein powder before bed is also a great time, as the body repairs muscle the most while we sleep. Blending a chocolate or vanilla Only Protein shake can be a great way to satisfy late-night cravings in a healthy way, while helping prepare your body for muscle-repair while you sleep. Since amino acids are the building blocks and adhere to your muscles, by having protein powder before bed you’re more likely to wake up feeling stronger and less sore.

Meal replacement protein powders on the other hand, tend to have a higher fiber count along with added vitamins and minerals to qualify as a balanced meal. While not suggested to replace all meals, if you’re prone to skipping meals or going 5-7 hours without eating, meal replacement protein powder is a great way to keep your metabolism and energy levels up until you have time to make a well-balanced meal later on. Only Protein’s meal replacement protein powder has around the same amount of calories as the basic protein powder, but has increased levels of Vitamin A, Biotin, Vitamin C, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid, among others. Meal replacement protein powders are more likely to keep you feeling full for longer and help you curb cravings.

Finding a balance between when to have regular Only Protein protein powder and Only Protein meal replacement protein powder can help your body stay energized, keep your metabolism up, fight cravings, and help your body repair torn muscles in-between workouts. Now, the real question is vanilla, or chocolate!

Bragging Rights: Only Protein & Cable Factory

On September 20, 2013, in Uncategorized, by Editor
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Have you seen this yet? Wakeboarding taken to the next level!

Bragging Rights! Loving these amazing athletes and all they bring to the Only Protein family! Go Wake Utah!


Bragging Rights - Cable Factory from WakeLess Productions on Vimeo.

Why Choose Low Glycemic Index Protein Powder?

On September 19, 2013, in Uncategorized, by Editor
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Following a low glycemic index diet can be a great way for individuals to improve their health and lose weight while gaining muscle. While there are a few popular diets that revolve around the glycemic index, the main aspect of the diet is to eat foods and beverages with low glycemic index ratings to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. Following a glycemic index diet doesn’t require individuals to follow a low-diet eating plan, count calories or require a reduction in portion size. Originally designed to help individual’s with diabetes improve their blood sugar control, it’s been found that low glycemic index diets can help us lose weight and reduce risk factors for certain chronic diseases.

While a doctor or healthcare provider should always be consulted before starting any weight loss diet, having a low glycemic index diet that includes Only Protein’s low glycemic index protein powder is a great way to get past a diet plateau and continue towards a healthier lifestyle.

The glycemic index ranks food and beverages based on how they affect a body’s blood sugar level on a scale of 0-100. Low index foods include raw carrots, apples, grapefruit, skim milk, and lentils while high glycemic index foods include instant white rice, white bread, baked potatoes, and watermelon. Because low glycemic index foods are absorbed more slowly, they stay in the body’s digestive tract longer and therefore help control appetite and delay hunger cues.

Including Only Protein’s low glycemic index protein powder to your diet can help you feel full longer and balance your blood sugar. By reducing cravings and lessening sugar rushes and crashes, dieters are more likely to succeed and stay on track with their diet and workout schedule.

Beyond having a low glycemic index, Only Protein is also gluten free with no GMOs or harmful ingredients. By having only the highest quality ingredients that are good for your health, Only Protein is held to some of the highest standards in the world with their New Zealand Whey Protein. Taste and feel the difference by trying out Only Protein, available both online and at your local GNC store.

 

Eat well in the right proportions, and use organic whey meal replacer to lose weight.

For the past decade or so, common wisdom has suggested that we eat several small meals a day in order to maintain health, increase metabolism, and make the best use of the nutrients we consume. But new evidence suggests that the vast majority of common body types benefit more from eating two to three meals per day.

“Whoa! Hold the phone,” you’re saying. Let us explain. The idea of “several small meals per day” came from the world of athletes—more specifically, people who need or want to gain weight the all-natural way. These kinds of people need more protein as well, and are well served to consume more carbohydrates also.

But the average Joe and Jane—those of us who aren’t eating food combinations for the precise purpose of weight gain or high endurance sporting activity—get the most out of nutrients from eating two to three healthy, well rounded meals everyday. This is especially true for those of us trying to lose weight. Low fat, high protein meals and meal replacement protein shakes help to lose weight and maximize our body’s use of nutrients.

So unless you are a serious, hardcore athlete, stick to two or three meals each day, and if you’re serious about losing weight, replace one to two of your three meals with Only Protein meal replacement protein powder. Loaded with all the nutrients you need in one meal, our meal replacement powder also contains protease, which helps keep the appetite in check until the next meal time.

Now here’s the caveat: if you’re used to eating four or more times a day, you won’t lose much weight by switching to two to three meals overnight. Ween yourself off of the “many meals” way of life by filling the spaces between meals with healthy snacks, including bananas, carrots, almonds, raisins, peanuts, and low calorie trail mixes.

Organic whey protein is an exceptional food to get yourself on the right track. By consuming organic whey protein everyday (that contains no soy and no artificial sweeteners) us average folks can stay fit, lose weight, and have better heart health.

soy free protein powder safer for women

Soy: Is it really the best option as a protein source? Not for women.

Hey Ladies! Did you know that beyond all the marketing and hype surrounding soy products that it is actually not good for you? A lot of soy milk and other soy product proponents seemed to be on the right track in the 1990s as they helped to get consumers away from the often unsafe cow’s milk available then—but times have changed, and organic milk and milk products aren’t on the chopping block anymore.

But here’s the thing: we now have healthy alternatives within the world of dairy, not the least of which is the dairy used to make the all whey protein used in all of the Only Protein products. Other examples include completely antibiotic-free milk and dairy products free of rbST (Recombinant bovine somatotropin)—a synthetic protein that forces cows to produce more milk. Only Protein never uses dairy that contains these chemicals, by the way.

But there’s so much more to the story. Soy is actually dangerous to women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer, most specifically, estrogen receptor-type breast cancer. But why? Because soymilk contains estrogen-like phytoestrogens, called isoflavones, which can upset the natural hormonal balance in women… and in men as well!

Unfortunately in most instances, soy and soy-based products are not GMO-free, and often contain a multitude of chemicals, including monosodium glutamate (MSG). Soy is also infamous among those in the know for being difficult to digest, causing bloating, gas, fatigue, and can even worsen the symptoms of PMS in women.

Because of the risks associated with soy and soymilk, Only Protein will never use soy in our meal replacement and protein powder products. If you are a huge fan of soy and just can’t bring yourself to ingest any kind of dairy, including organic whey, we’d strongly encourage you to take a look at almond milk or hemp milk rather than going the generally simpler consumer route of just accepting soymilk as your only nondairy option.

Need a soy-free protein powder? Look no further! Click here to find a store that sells Only Protein near you!

Only Protein + Yoga = The Perfect Fit

On September 4, 2013, in Uncategorized, by Editor
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Balance your prana by eating well before and after yoga!

Many people in the holistic living community have had to steer clear of protein powders due to their highly processed ingredients, the use of synthetic sweeteners. For those looking for an organic, gluten-free, vegetarian protein powder, look no further than Only Protein.

Yoga is one of the best ways to workout—it balances the body and mind while also reducing stress, burning calories, and building a sense of community for regular practitioners. Yogis and yoginis will tell you, it is called the “practice of yoga” because yoga is a journey, and not a destination. It’s a form of fitness that allows for constant growth and development both physically and mentally, making it perhaps the world’s most balanced way to break a sweat.

For those interested in maintaining true balance, many will add raw diet or vegetarianism to their practice of yoga. Many more will also take on the practice of meditation, while others still will use yoga as their time to decompress and release the stress and anxiety of daily work and home life. For those who practice yoga, the word “prana” is a commonly used phrase. Prana essentially means energy or life force, and it is one of the most basic key focal points of yoga. The idea is to balance prana, and this is achieved through breathing, working through yoga poses with lucidity, not forcefulness.

A key part of balancing prana outside of the yoga studio is by ensuring that what goes into your body is made from quality ingredients, and Only Protein meets every possible standard to this end. As a non-GMO, USDA organic food source, and a soy-free source of protein, Only Protein meal replacement and protein powder are a great addition to the yoga lifestyle.

Want to learn more about Only Protein nutrition? Check out our protein products and our “Why Drink Only Protein” page for more details.

Namaste!