WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MY PROTEIN?

                 


                        

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING: The period be­tween when you go to bed and wake up in the morning is the longest that your body goes with­out food. “Break the fast” with protein. In addi­tion to providing much needed amino acids for muscle maintenance and rebuilding, proteins provide more stable, sustained energy than that donut or bagel that you’re currently chow­ing on*. Opt for a faster-acting protein like whey first thing in the morning.

PRE-WORKOUT: By drinking a protein shake about an hour before your workout, you’ll “prime” your body for growth with BCAAs and other essential amino acids.* Whey and egg pro­teins are a good choice, because they are easy to drink and quickly digested.

POST-WORKOUT: The 30-60 minute timeframe following exercise is the single most important time of the day to get protein. Enzymes and hor­mones are actively repairing and rebuilding ex­ercise-induced damage as well as replenishing glycogen stores, so your muscles are especially receptive to nutrients. By supplying a post-workout recovery protein containing whey, ca­sein, egg, and simple carbohydrates during this “window” of opportunity, you’ll help ensure that you’re recharged and ready for your next train­ing session.*

BETWEEN MEALS: Consuming a protein shake in between meals not only helps keep muscle syn­thesis maximized, it also helps keep body fat and body weight in check.* Proteins help stimulate the release of gut hormones that trigger a feel­ing of fullness or satiety.* Dairy proteins (whey, casein, and milk) are considered to be better appetite blunters than other protein sources – especially when combined with dietary fiber – so choose a product with one or more of these proteins if weight control is part of your goals.*

BEFORE BED: Prepare your body for the long fast ahead with a casein protein shake a half an hour before bed. Unlike whey which is rap­idly broken down in the gut, casein is digested at a much slower rate releasing its amino acid constituents over several hours throughout the night while you sleep.* For this reason, casein is commonly referred to as a time-released pro­tein. Casein is also considered anti-catabolic because it’s rich in glutamine and other amino acids that help protect against muscle break­down.