The prevalence of protein supplementation in the average person is growing drastically. In an article in the BBC news, it is estimated that the world will be chewing and gulping down 16 billion bars, drinks, and other protein supplements a year by 2017. This is a substantial number and it raises the question if protein supplementation is necessary. A healthy protein intake depends on weight, with a recommended intake figure of 0.8g per kg of weight per day. With this in mind, if you are following a ‘normal’ diet, most people would consume adequate amounts of protein. Nonetheless, protein supplements are used in an attempt to boost the body’s ability to build muscle tissue. The most common supplement is a whey protein, or a whey isolate. There is a slight difference between the two but without getting too into the details I will explain each proteins best use. A whey concentrate is a better all-around protein but an isolate is more absorbable into muscle tissue and is therefore best used as a post workout protein. Obviously as a chiropractor we are more concerned about the joints because we are joint specialists, but muscles influence the joints dramatically so overall muscle health is important. For more information about supplementation or chiropractic, book an appointment with a chiropractor today.
