It’s no surprise that today’s fitness enthusiasts consider protein shakes as the ultimate elixir to reach their fitness goal. Not to mention that there is an endless war going on between those who support the notion of having a supplementary protein source and those who are strictly in opposition to it. We aren’t going to side with anyone in this matter, but we certainly are going to give you the pros and cons of having protein shakes in your workout regimen, so you can consider after analyzing everything according to your perspective and your workout goals:
Pros:
1. Muscle Buildup: Even though muscle buildup isn’t something which is the aim for most women during their workout, someone who is very thin would probably need it to look at least better than they were before.
2. It keeps you full: Since protein shakes are full of, well, protein; and are an excellent addition to your diet if you plan on eating much less but still want to stay full.
3. Variety: There are various protein shakes available for nearly every purpose you can find out there. From weight gaining to losing it and everything in between, there is something always available for your fitness needs.
4. Recovery: For those who feel very sore after an intense workout, protein shakes are a great way to minimize the pain since they are pretty good in terms of muscle repair and recovery after a workout.
5. Vegans: There are specific protein shakes available that are specifically made out of plant material for those on a vegan diet.
Cons:
1. Price: Let’s face it; we do not have piles of cash lying around just waiting to be spent on a good-quality product, do we? Not saying that other less-known brands are not reliable, but the good ones can be extremely pricey.
2. Kidney Damage: Though this is not a cause-and-effect phenomenon, people who mindlessly have too many protein shakes are at a very high risk of damaging their kidneys.
3. Side effects: Side effects are common among protein drinks such as digestion-related problems but having the type of protein, which isn’t suited for your body type can have far worse effects.
4. No Workout: Many people forget that protein is to be consumed along with a good workout and diet. Leaving the latter out simply won’t show any effect.
5. Withdrawal Symptoms: Although protein shakes do contain trace amounts of steroids, the withdrawal symptoms when you stop having protein shakes are hard to deal with. It is easiest to gradually decrease dosages to minimalize these effects.
