Ideal Time to Drink a Protein Shake

If you have just started working on your body then we are sure you must have been suggested to have protein shakes as you need plenty of protein supplements in your diet to achieve the desired body. Protein supplements consist of a lot of nutrients which do their job while keeping you healthy at the same time. They can also help build those lean muscles, which grab eyeballs. Though there are plenty of brands available in the market but for maximum performance output and impact, it is ideal to take your fitness goal into consideration- weight loss or muscle gain and buildup.

For fat loss:

If you are working out for fat loss then the best time to drink a protein shake is hours before working out, apparently mid-morning or afternoon. At that time what it does is suppress your appetite and supply enough nutrition to the body to keep the fat burning for longer, fulfilling your weight loss mission.

Protein contains several appetites reducing hormones like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY) and cholecystokinin (CCK) which induce satiety.

Studies have also found that consuming protein through the day can make you consume a lesser number of calories since you feel “full”. So, protein, in any form is considered important.

For muscle mass:

If you consuming protein shakes to transform your body, build more muscles then the best time would be to drink it at 30-45 minute gap post your workout. The reason is that your body needs protein in these crucial minutes to heal, recover and rebuild those muscles.

Before Bedtime

The elderly, as well as people looking to build muscle, increase strength and improve exercise performance and recovery, can benefit from taking protein before bed. Scientists concluded that taking protein before bed is an effective strategy to promote muscle building and help them adapt to exercise because protein consumed before bed is effectively digested and absorbed, increasing the availability of protein to muscles for recovery throughout the night.

Sufficient protein intake can aid fat loss, build and preserve muscle and improve exercise performance and recovery but what’s more important is taking it at the right time.