What Should I Look For In A Protein Powder If I’m Trying To Lose Weight
First things first, Byrd suggests looking for a protein powder that is high in fiber, high in protein, and low in carbs. “These types of protein powders will help keep you full longer, curb cravings, and help prevent sugar highs and crashes during the day,” she says.
Some other things to keep in mind when making your pick:
Check the label. Make sure you look for something with at least 20 grams of protein, less than 10 grams of total carbohydrates, and at least 3 grams of fiber per scoop. You should also look for protein powders that are naturally-sweetened using ingredients like monk fruit extract, stevia, and natural flavors. “Avoid protein powders that use sucralose, sugar alcohols, aspartame, Splenda, and other artificial sweeteners,” says Byrd. She also suggests avoiding milk powders, milk solids, and gluten, since they are unnecessary fillers that can cause bloating and gastrointestinal issues.
Opt for a protein blend if you’re going plant-based. Whey, casein, or egg-based proteins are complete proteins, meaning they have all nine essential amino acids that allow your body to better absorb and make the most of your protein source. If you’re opting for a plant-based protein, look for a blend these can also feature a complete amino acid profile.
Keeping that in mind, we asked nutritionists for their picks of the best protein powders for weight loss. Here are 17 awesome options.
Protein Plays An Important Role
But as much as I adore produce , theres something else I find equally important to include in a smoothie: protein.
Consuming protein with a meal can help us feel more satisfied. Not to mention the MANY roles of protein in our bodies, like hormones, enzymes, cell and tissue structure, and so, so much more.
For more information on the role of protein in our bodies, check out this post I wrote detailing everything you need to know about protein.
Protein powders and other protein-rich supplements are very popular options for easy ways to add protein to smoothies. But I know protein powders arent the solution for everyone. Many people dont like the taste or texture of protein powders, some prefer whole, real food sources, and others just dont want to buy or consume protein powders. Whatever the reason, thats okay! But its still important to balance your smoothie with a little protein.
So, Im sharing a resource I give to my clients with 40 ways to add protein to smoothies without powders! Youll see a wide variety of foods, from dairy products to nuts and seeds to even fruit and vegetables.
Before I share the list, I do want to know that the list is arranged by what I and my clients have often felt are acceptable amounts of these food sources to include in a smoothie i.e. more than a couple tablespoons of nuts is going to add way more calories and healthy fats than protein, and may leave little room for other ingredients.
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Best Things To Add To Your Smoothie To Help Lower Cholesterol
Smoothies in and of themselves are not going to lower your cholesterol. Its only when they contain certain things might they help. If your smoothie is chuck full of coconut oil, full fat milk, chocolate, and maybe a single berrythen yeah..its not going to be much help.
We should remember that smoothies are simply a type of meal, and there is a wide variety of smoothies to consider.
My standard go to green smoothie would be a good choice. Its made with kale, some coconut water, and maybe a lemon. But if youre especially concerned about your cholesterol, then here are some things to consider.
Oats
It seems that everyone knows that oats can help to lower your cholesterol. And thats true. Heres a link to a well known study that followed a randomized control procedure.
Basically, eating oats is good for you. Theres a reason everyone from weightlifters, bodybuidlers, endurance athletes, dieters, and your grandparents told you to eat your oats.
If youre looking for a recipe to create the best smoothie for lowering your cholesterol, then its got to include oats.
The reason I like adding them to a smoothie is that you get a great silky texture, and oats blend up super smooth in smoothies.
Honestly, many people dont like to eat cooked oatmeal. And some who do only like to eat it with tons of sugar or milk. Thats why adding oats to a smoothie is so great. You can basically sneak in some oats.
Nuts
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Best Casein Protein Powders
Casein, the main protein in milk, is absorbed more slowly than whey, so its not quite as efficient at building muscle, McDaniel says. But it can leave you feeling fuller longer, which makes it a great addition to meal replacement shakes or your morning oatmeal, especially if youre trying to lose weight. Casein has also been found to enhance muscle building when blended with whey in a post-workout shake.
Skinny Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie
This vegan recipe will have you drooling for more! Its vegan, low calorie, and delicious! What makes it different than any regular strawberry smoothie? The secret is in a butter extract that gives it a rich pastry flavor while keeping it low in calories. If you feel like leaving your chair to blend this one up right away, you are in good company.
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Strawberry Kefir Smoothies With Baobab Powder
This is one of the great kefir smoothies for weight loss as it is naturally low in calories but can give you a great source of good probiotics, healthy omega-3s, and fibers.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of frozen strawberry
- 3/4 cup of plain kefir
- 2 tbsp of flax seeds or chia seeds
Instruction
Do Smoothies Make You Gain Weight
High protein smoothies can help with weight gain due to the calories they provide mostly from fruit sugars.
These are a short-term energy source and should be matched up with workouts and physical activity.
The best approach is to use them more often, rather than simply making bigger smoothies, and even pair them with other food to slow down the metabolism of sugars and provide more sustainable energy.
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Green Smoothies For Weight Loss That Pack A Serious Health Punch
Used as a meal replacement or as a snack, green smoothies for weight loss have become all the rage with everyone claiming how good they are, not only for weight loss, but also for their multiple health benefits. If you are curious about the benefits of green smoothies for weight loss or are looking for some simple green smoothies for weight loss recipes for every day use, keep reading to find out this and much more.
Lemon Kale Protein Detox
Putting lemon in your blender is like taking out a nutrition insurance policy for your smoothie. Thats because a significant percentage of the antioxidant polyphenols in any food or drink break down before they reach your bloodstream. But researchers at Purdue University discovered that adding lemon juice to the equation helped preserve the polyphenols.
- ½ lemon, peeled and seeded
- ½ frozen banana
- ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop plain plant-based protein powder
- 3 ice cubes
- Water to blend
NUTRITION: 254 calories / 7 g fat / 20 g carbs / 5 g fiber / 10 g sugar / 30 g protein
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Savory Weight Loss Smoothies
A smoothie can be a lot of things: a pre- or post-workout boost, a cold and refreshing thirst quencher, a thick and creamy dessert, a perfectly balanced breakfast. But one thing most of us never think of when we think of smoothies: comfort food.
These recipes, from the book Zero Belly Smoothies, stake out a new territory in the smoothie landscape, a culinary point of departure into a taste realm you might not have considered. While these smoothies are still cold and refreshing, they’re going to taste more like a savory soup than a bright pick-me-up.
- ¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 scoop plant-based plain protein powder
- 3 ice cubes
- Water to blend
NUTRITION: 232 calories / 2 g fat / 28 g carbs / 3.5 g fiber / 10 g sugar / 26 g protein
Smoothies: A Short Guide
You probably know that smoothies are thick and creamy drinks made of healthy ingredients that pack a powerful nutrient punch. They usually contain dairy ornon-dairy/plant-based milk, water,juices, fruits or vegetable puree, some seeds and nuts. Basically, all you need is some liquid and fiber base, and voilà, you can create your own smoothie recipes that are tailored to your own taste and preferences.
Some of the most common options are fruit smoothies, protein smoothies, and green smoothies. The first type mainly consists of fruits and some liquid ingredients. The second type calls for protein ingredients like protein powder, cottage cheese, yogurt etc., on top of the liquid base, and some fruits or veggies. Green smoothies include leafy green veggies and fruits plus liquid ingredients.
You need to stock up on a mix-and-match of healthy picks like bananas, berries, mangoes, or apples. Fruits will kick up the flavor of your smoothie and will add the sweetness, which is perfect for those with an uncontrollable sweet tooth. Cucumbers, avocadoes, carrots, spinach, and kale are perfect vegetable smoothie ingredients. Peanuts, walnuts, or chia seeds are additional foods thatll power up your smoothie and fuel you for the day ahead. Water, juice, milk, and nondairy milk are the most common liquid ingredients.
As for the vegan smoothies for weight loss, the main idea is quite obvious all the ingredients should be vegan-friendly and healthy.
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Almond & Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie
This is definitely a smoothie for chocolate lovers, yet is only 300 calories and provides 9 grams of fiber, says Gans.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup frozen strawberries or mixed berries, if you prefer
- 3-6 ice cubes I use 5, depending on how thick you like your shakes
Steps:Starting with the almond milk, place all the ingredients into a blender. Depending on your blenders settings, first start by chopping up the ice and frozen strawberries, followed by pureeing the mixture to create a smooth, even consistency. In order to get your preferred consistency, you can also start by not adding any ice, following the other steps above. Once all other ingredients are mixed together, slowly add the ice, mix and then test. Continue to add more ice cubes until the desired consistency is met. If too thick, you can add some more almond milk, little by little. If not sweet enough, add a little more honey.
What To Do If You Dont Like The Smoothie
First off, if you dont want to use fruits and vegetables in your smoothies, this smoothie post is not for you.
Depending on the ingredients and your taste palate, some smoothies may seem a bit sweet, not sweet enough, a bit tangy, or not creamy enough.
If the smoothie seems too sweet, you may add a teaspoon of lemon or lime juice, add more ice, or add a little water.
Smoothie is not sweet enough? you may add healthier sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, agave nectar, stevia, dates, and other high-sugar fruits.
If your smoothie is too tangy, you may use neutralizing fruits like bananas or mangos and a tablespoon of your favorite protein powder. For added creaminess, you may add fruits like avocados or just simply add some yogurt.
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Orange Strawberry Squash Smoothie
This two-serving sipper is a delicious way to help you reach your daily fruit and veggie requirements. Like many smoothies, you could blend it into a drink or a smoothie bowl. If you want to make more of a meal out of it, add protein-rich enhancers, like protein powder or Greek yogurt.
This smoothie bowl packs 27 g of protein to power you through a long morning. Plus, wild blueberries are packed with antioxidants and fiber.
If a non-dairy smoothie is more your style, this one, with plant-based protein powder, makes a delicious and filling meal.
Cottage cheese provides the protein in this layered drink. Its made parfait-style so the smoothie and cottage cheese are kept separateperfect for days when you want to dig in with a spoon.
How Do I Use These Smoothies To Lose Weight
Many people have lost weight using these smoothies. Depending on how fast you want to lose weight, the weight-loss method may vary.
If you want to take things slow, you may use a weight loss smoothie to replace a meal such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
To make things easier and flexible, you should choose to replace a meal at a time most convenient for you . You can do this meal replacement daily until you begin to see the results that you are looking for.
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How Protein Powders Work And Common Misconceptions
Protein, along with carbohydrates and fat, are one of the three main macronutrients that make up everything we eat. Proteins are amino acids which help maintain, build and repair damaged muscle tissue. The more you exercise, and the more you work your muscles, the more protein its thought you need.
When we exercise, the reason our muscles get sore is that we create small tears in our muscle fibres. Proteins, which are comprised of amino acids, help mend and repair those tears. Over time, this causes muscles to build up and swell as theyre repeatedly used, torn and come back stronger.
Protein powders are entirely unrelated to steroids: theyre not chemicals, but derived from food, whether thats animal products such as whey or a vegetarian alternative such as pea protein. We get protein every day from sources such as meat, eggs, dairy, pulses, legumes, nuts and seeds: protein powder is just a concentrated form of that.
Why do we need protein powders, if we can get everything from food? The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people who lift weights or does endurance training regularly, such as running or cycling, need between 1.2 or 1.7g of protein per pound of body weight. every day, in order to build muscle and get stronger. Thats a lot, and hard to get from three square meals a day. Protein shakes offer a convenient, affordable way to get more protein into our diets.
Chia Flax And Hemp Seeds
Smoothies are a great vehicle for taking in the fiber benefits of:
- Flaxseed
- Raw shelled hemp seed
All three are nutritional powerhouses. Both chia and flaxseed are thought to add in optimal stool formationalways a good thing!
Each type of seeds is also good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which play an important role in the healthy functioning of so many of the cells of our bodies.
Chia and hemp seeds can be added directly to your smoothies. Flaxseed needs to be ground first in order for you to enjoy its health benefits.
Start with a tablespoon of whichever one appeals to you most to allow your body time to adjust. You can then work your way up to a tablespoon of each as a great way to round out your belly-friendly smoothie!
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Green And Red Powders
You can also find greens powders, reds powders, and powders that contain a little of both. Greens powders simply include a variety of vegetables, particularly those that are good for your health, like the dark leafy greens.
Red powders tend to rely on fruit instead, focusing on fruits that are high in antioxidants, like berries. Beetroot is sometimes included as well, partly because it has the same color as berries, but also because beetroot contains desirable nutrients.
Powders like these are perfect as a concentrated source of nutrients.
After all, its much easier to add a scoop or two of green powder into your smoothie than a couple of handfuls of spinach. For that matter, many powders incorporate more fruits and vegetables than you could ever fit into a single smoothie.
If you are going to use powders, pay close attention to the ingredients label. Look for companies that use hardly any artificial ingredients, additives, or fillers.
Skinny Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
And here we have it! Yet another healthy smoothie version of your favorite dessert! If youre getting sick of eating oatmeal in the mornings, try using it in a shake instead! Because of the high fiber in oatmeal, it helps keep you feeling full and satiated longer while giving the smoothie a fun new texture.
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How To Make Green Smoothies For Weight Loss
If you are new to the world of green smoothies, you might be wondering what to put in green smoothies for weight loss and in what ratios. In some cases, people suggest that there are specific ratios to follow in terms of how much fruits and vegetables to add to your blender, while in others cases, people claim that there are no rules add whatever veggies, liquid, and fruit you like and pulse them all together.
So are there any rules for making these drinks for weight loss? Yes, and no. Following your heart and picking what fruits and veggies you like can work, but if you prefer to have a meticulous outline of what to do, here is how to make the best green smoothies for weight loss :