Protein powders offer an easy way to boost your protein intake, but are they necessary?

Are some better than others? And where do they fall in this whole ultra-processed food debate?

Today, I'm breaking down the pros and cons of the most popular options so you can decide

whether protein powder belongs in your diet. And if so, which one is right for you.

Hello, and welcome to the Nutrition Diva podcast, a show where I unpack the latest nutrition

news and headlines and answer your food and nutrition questions so that you can make more

informed choices about what to eat. And one question that I'm frequently asked is whether I think

that protein powders are a good idea, and if so, which one I think is best. If you're a long-time

listener to this podcast, then you probably know that in general,

I'm not a big fan of supplements. I really believe that you're better off getting your nutrition

from actual whole foods instead of processed pills and powders. And the truth is that most of us

are already getting more than enough protein to meet our basic

nutritional needs. On the other hand, I've also talked at length about the advantages of diets

that are a little higher in protein, more than the amount needed just to meet your basic

nutritional needs. Eating more protein can help curb your

appetite, which can be really helpful for weight management. It also helps support the growth and

the repair of muscle tissue, which can help you get more out of exercise. But the role of protein

in muscle protein synthesis specifically is not just relevant for bodybuilders.

People who are actively losing weight or recovering from surgery or illness or even just getting

a little bit older are all at increased risk of muscle loss.

And so for people in any of those categories, a higher protein

diet can help to stem those losses. Rather than shooting for the recommended daily allowance

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