Given its extensive range of muscle building and health benefits, it’s no surprise that so many athletes are turning to whey-based formulas as their supplement of choice, like NPL whey protein. While ensuring that you have the right amount of protein in your diet is beneficial for anyone aiming to lead a healthy lifestyle, it is especially important for athletes and gym enthusiasts who consistently push their bodies to the limit.
From enhancing athletic performance to rebuilding muscle tissue, whey powders like NPL whey protein provide a myriad of benefits for athletes and gymgoers alike. In this quick read, we’ll be looking into why protein is so fundamental in the lives of athletes, as well as the many benefits that come with using NPL whey protein.
The Importance Of Protein
Before we delve into the advantages of protein powders for fitness enthusiasts, it’s important to have an understanding of what protein is and why our bodies require it. Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids and can be found in numerous food sources, like nuts, beans, and animal products. As humans, we need to consume an adequate amount of these critical molecules, as they make it possible for our bodies to perform various essential functions, like repair cells and strengthen our immune systems.
NPL whey protein and other high-quality alternatives are one of the simplest and most convenient methods of ensuring your body receives all the protein it needs to sustain itself through intense workouts and subsequent recovery periods. Many people, especially athletes and fitness enthusiasts, opt for a high-protein diet, meaning that most of the meals they eat are rich in protein but typically low in carbohydrates. Food ingredients that are high in protein include lentils, plain yoghurt, eggs, peanuts, chicken breast, and several more.
While protein-focused diets are endorsed by many in the fitness world, protein is beneficial for everyone, regardless of fitness level. Incorporating protein into your lifestyle not only helps your body perform its necessary functions but also assists in maintaining a healthy weight – keeping you full and satiated in the process.
The body does produce some of its own amino acids, but the amount it produces naturally is not nearly enough for the body to survive independently. Ingesting protein is the best way for us to get all nine of the essential amino acids we need and not only sustain the body but help it thrive, whether it be packing on muscle, losing weight, or toning your physique. Whether you’re incorporating high protein foods into your diet or taking your daily dose of NPL whey protein, consuming protein is essential for our overall health.
NPL Platinum Whey Protein
Nutritional Performance Labs (NPL) decided on a quality over quantity approach, meaning they have a few ultra-high-quality offerings that they have perfected over the years – the NPL Platinum Whey Protein is included in this. Described as being one of the purest whey protein formulas on the market, this impressive product has many appealing characteristics, including a combination of whey isolate, hydrolysate, and concentrate to ensure that you are receiving a comprehensive array of nutrients and muscle-building effects.
With a considerable 22g of protein per serving and a miraculously low carbohydrate and sugar content, this supplement presents your system with all the tools it needs to succeed, enabling the growth of lean muscle mass and enhanced recovery. To add to this, with 4.7g of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and European-spec flavour technology, you can take your fitness routine to the next level while enjoying every sip or bite in the process. For avid gymgoers, athletes, and bodybuilders, it truly doesn’t get much better than this NPL whey protein.
NPL Whey Protein: Why Protein Is Beneficial For Athletes
Regardless of who you are and the type of lifestyle you lead, protein is crucial for our bodies. As we know, proteins and amino acids help to keep the body working optimally, including enhancing the functioning of our organs, bones, skin, and muscles. When we exert our bodies during strenuous workouts, it results in muscle protein being broken down.
While exercise is important to promote healthy living, working out without the right amount of protein can cause damage or a loss of muscle mass. Intensive workouts or fitness routines cause damage to our muscle cells, which are then rebuilt and repaired to be stronger than before.
The best way to ensure muscle building and avoid unnecessary harm to the body is to increase protein intake, be it protein-rich foods or NPL whey protein. As athletes, sportsmen, and fitness enthusiasts are so physically active, they require more protein in their diet than the average person to make up for the strain on their muscle cells. Whey protein has reigned supreme as the top choice of protein powders for athletes, especially due to the many benefits it offers, such as:
Managing Weight & Promoting Weight Loss
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for athletes, as it can affect their overall performance and development. When our bodies are holding onto additional weight, it hinders our movement, coordination, and balance. One of the key benefits associated with whey-based supplements like NPL whey protein is its ability to promote healthy weight loss.
This is because NPL whey protein leaves athletes feeling satiated for long periods after consumption, which can help prevent excessive eating and suppress cravings. Not only is NPL whey protein packed with essential nutrients, but it is also filling enough to keep athletes sustained throughout their daily lives and workouts. These effects help athletes manage a healthy weight, allowing them to enhance performance and, ultimately, encourage success and results.
Repairing & Building Muscle
In addition to helping the body repair its muscle cells, whey protein can stimulate muscle growth. Whey supplements like NPL whey protein contain BCAAs, which are especially important for stimulating the growth and repair of muscle tissues.
There are three major BCAAs: valine, isoleucine, and leucine, all of which cannot be produced naturally within the body. The only way to get these amino acids is by consuming foods or supplements that include them, such as NPL whey protein. If you’re an athlete with a focus on strength training or endurance exercise, whey protein is the ultimate supplement for growing and repairing your muscles.
Speeding Up Recovery Time
Minor to significant muscle damage is expected after an intense workout. Athletes that engage in muscle-building and endurance exercises are more susceptible to muscle damage, which is why it’s important to provide their bodies with the necessary proteins to prevent injury or strain.
Studies have shown that it’s possible to shorten recovery time considerably by consuming whey protein before or after your workout. This is because the muscle-repairing properties of BCAAs reduce soreness from potential muscle damage. If you’re struggling with muscle soreness and stiffness after your gym sessions, you may want to consider incorporating NPL whey protein into your fitness routine.
Enhances Performance & Strength
One of the main reasons why so many athletes and fitness enthusiasts choose whey protein as their supplement of choice is its ability to enhance athletic performance. Sufficient protein is a necessity for anyone hoping to increase their strength and endurance, which is why NPL whey protein is a great way to ensure that your body is equipped with everything it needs.
When our systems begin processes like muscle protein synthesis, they will need additional resources to repair these microtears in the muscles and pack on mass. Whey protein contains all the essential nutrients necessary for increasing the size and strength of our muscles, making it the perfect supplement for any athlete.
The Dangers Of Insufficient Protein
We now know that eating or supplementing good amounts of protein into our diets is beneficial for our health, but what happens if we don’t consume enough of it? Whether you’re a gym veteran or not, a lack of protein could result in a susceptibility to a range of health risks. If you’re not getting the necessary nutrients and amino acids from protein sources, like NPL whey protein powder, the following unfortunate symptoms could become a possibility:
Weakened Bones
Our bodies cannot produce nine of the twenty essential amino acids, which is why we need to get these crucial nutrients from supplements, animal products, and other protein-rich foods. As protein helps to strengthen our bones, a lack thereof can critically affect our bone health. Protein is crucial for maintaining the density and strength of our bones, which is why a protein deficiency has the potential to weaken them considerably.
Without essential amino acids, the bones break down and become brittle and fragile, making the body more susceptible to injuries and fractures. Additionally, low protein can lead to frequent bone injuries and other unpleasant eventualities.
Less Muscle Mass
Considering that protein sources, like NPL whey protein, help to increase the body’s muscle building capacity, it’s no surprise that a protein-deficient diet can reduce our existing muscle mass. Muscle atrophy, a medical condition that results in the thinning or wasting of muscle tissue, is a common health risk associated with a lack of protein.
The absence of muscle mass causes a domino effect on the rest of our body, decreasing our strength and, in turn, slowing our metabolism. The longer we continue to deprive our body of its essential amino acids, the more it continues to deteriorate our muscle tissue. As you can imagine, this is a rather extreme symptom and only occurs when an individual has deprived themselves of protein sources for extended periods of time.
Vulnerable To Infection
Without adequate protein consumption, our bodies may become not only weaker but also more susceptible to infection. This is because the nutrients and amino acids found in proteins are critical for fortifying and strengthening immune responses and functions. A weakened immune system can lead to a range of infections and health risks, especially since weakened antibodies will not be strong enough to fight off bacteria.
Depending on your genetics and other external factors, exposure to infection coupled with a vulnerable immune system can turn minor illnesses into more serious health risks. For example, one is more likely to contract a common cold with increased frequency. However, without the necessary protein to maintain one’s immune system, a cold could develop into something substantially more problematic.
Declining Hair, Skin & Nail Health
As discussed previously, protein is important for keeping multiple bodily structures and functions intact, including our hair, nails, and skin. Protein deficiency makes itself known in the body both internally and externally, affecting the quality of our hair, the strength of our nails, and the health of our skin. This is because these three keratin-based bodily components (excluding our skin) are made up of protein, meaning they need enough of it to remain strong and healthy. A lack of protein consumption can affect the skin in multiple ways, often resulting in redness, flaky skin, and uneven pigmentation.
Increased Cravings
As high-quality protein sources like NPL whey protein leave people feeling full and satisfied, a lack of these nutrients can lead to heightened food cravings. Typically, these cravings result in an increased desire for processed foods, incurring potential weight imbalances and other negative effects on the body. Our systems crave foods that are high in calories when they are running in a protein deficit, as they are only satiated for shorter periods of time. Consuming enough protein is crucial to keep our bodies sustained, providing us with nutrients, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Elevate Your Health With Prime Growth Nutrition
As always, our main focus is the health and well-being of our customers, and with that in mind, we recommend checking in with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplemental routines. While all our products have undergone rigorous testing and feature only the finest ingredients, our bodies react differently and it’s best to take this into account when trying new formulas.
Prime Growth Nutrition supplies a range of high-quality protein powders and other muscle-building supplements. We offer products from trusted health brands, including NPL, MuscleTech, SSA Supplements, and many more. As a company passionate about health and fitness, we strive to provide our clients with nothing but top-of-the-line supplements. Are you hoping to take your health and fitness to the next level? Visit our online store to peruse our extensive assortment of supplements. Achieve your fitness goals today!