By : Komal Thakur (Pharmacist, Naturopath, Health & Fitness Enthusiast)

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Protein powders- Do they really work?

With so many health and fitness brands available in the market, we often end up questioning, if it’s just a marketing gimmick or a niche created to sell a product, or is there any evidence at all if these products work. If you look up for any particular product on google you will get at least a hundred pages of information for you to search and decide. That’s how the FMCG market works. It is tough to pick a product because everything is packed and marketed so immaculately. Loads of websites and influencers are paid to review the FMCG products. The higher the marketing investment the better the product is perceived by the consumer. It isn’t easy for the consumer to decide and it’s not easy for the marketeer either because the competition is tough. How does the scientifically correct knowledge reach the consumer? All the healthcare products are required to publish a label claim and a consumer leaflet, so it’s always important for the consumer to read and understand what value add the product is doing to their health and lifestyle. If you are not getting the right benefit, do not believe in the product just because the advertisement looks great. Another way to approach a healthcare purchase is by speaking to your doctor, because you will get the correct advice from there too.

Protein powders have caught the buzz recently. Almost all FMCG companies have included a protein powder in their product portfolio and almost 45-50% of the Indian population is aware of protein powders and has at some point in their life purchased and has been prescribed one. So everyone is aware about these protein supplements especially because they are known to help you gain muscle and boost your immunity, but let’s figure out how real that is and whether these protein powders actually work at all.

There are mainly three types of protein powders that are available in the market. The vegan or plant derived protein powders derived from soya, hemp, pea, etc. The milk protein powders like the whey protein. The protein powders derived from eggs. They all claim to give you the same kind of advantage in terms of protein content. Since they are all dietary supplements there is no way to know what is claimed on the labels is actually what is inside the pack, unless you take it to a laboratory and get it tested, which I am sure you won’t. It’s basically a hit and miss kind of a thing.

What does protein do?

Protein is generally found in almost many things that are consumed every single day, protein helps build your bones, it’s important for your skin and hair, for your brain function, for your immunity, for your hormones and all the vital organs to function smoothly. It is a macronutrient that is essential and the general recommendation is to consume 0.8 grams per kg of your body weight. The protein gets converted into muscle or is used up as energy, hence for people who are trying to gain muscle or build their body need to consume that extra bit of protein. The unutilized protein just gets converted into fat and is stored in the body. Excess protein can also cause your kidneys to not function properly. So you see where I am going with this, if it’s necessary you need to consume it because if it’s extra, it’s simply going to be expelled out or be stored as fat. If you want to gain mass sure go ahead and consume that extra protein powder.

Are protein powders essential?

Yes in many cases a good source of protein powder is essential. They are essential when:

Your immunity is compromised

You are always low on energy

You have some auto-immune disorders ( after Doctor’s recommendation)

During pregnancy when extra nutrition is required

In special cases when a protein deficiency has been observed

If your skin and hair are lacking luster and falling out

You want to gain that extra muscle

Your job is highly physically demanding

In all these above cases, it’s always best to speak with your doctor and get that opinion and prescription.

Which protein powder can be considered?

There are multiple protein powder brands in the market so pick according to your requirements, however consuming pure whey protein can have its disadvantages as the long term side effects are not known so you need to be careful.

However, you can safely choose one of the many variants of GRD-The superior protein, because it not just contain superior Whey protein but also fortified with a lot of vitamins and minerals which surely benefit your health. It has been prescribed by a lot of doctors in the country hence it can be considered safe for the entire family. If you are considering enhancing your protein intake, GRD can be a safe bet.