You hear a lot these days about extra protein after exercise for muscle recovery. Should you also have protein shakes?
As long as you don't train as hard as a bodybuilder and spend hours lifting weights, you don't need a protein shake and you don't necessarily need to eat extra protein.
At least, that is not necessary if you get enough protein from your daily diet. Do you eat vegetables, chicken, fish and/or eggs every day? Then the protein powder can stay in the cupboard. But if you are a vegetarian or vegan and you miss proteins from animal products, a protein shake can sometimes be useful to absorb enough protein after exercise.
Why are proteins important? Proteins are indispensable for keeping your muscles, organs, nervous system and blood healthy. During exercise, a small amount of muscle damage occurs, which you repair by eating proteins – which the body converts into amino acids. If you ensure that twenty percent of your diet contains proteins, you are in the right place.
Read also: 5 frequently asked questions about proteins
Through apps such as MyFitnessPal you can keep a food diary in a food diary and see exactly how much protein it contains and whether that amount is sufficient.
