What Are Protein Pills?

Weightlifters and bodybuilders are always looking for a way to add muscle. Since muscle is built from protein, many of their efforts are focused on how to get more protein without becoming fat. While consuming it as part of a well-balanced diet is the best way to get protein, it also comes with a lot of extra calories. Food supplements are the answer, and protein can be purchased as a powder, liquid, power bar and pill. Here are some of the benefits of protein pills.

• Protein pills are one way to get extra protein.

Protein

• Protein is necessary to repair muscles that are damaged during a workout and build new muscle tissue. Protein is made up of essential amino acids, which the body can't produce on its own. That is why either protein or amino acids must be consumed supplementally.

Protein Pills

• Some protein pills are created using quality sources of protein. Among the best are those made from beef liver; these will also provide your body with other vitamins and minerals. You don't have to worry about taste either. Since you are swallowing the pill, you don't have to deal with the taste or aftertaste of liver. Another popular source of protein in pill form is whey.

Branch Chain Amino Acids

• Protein is made up of amino acids, which the body can't produce on its own. By consuming branch chain amino acids (BCAA) in pill form, you give your body the substances that it needs to build proteins that it can then use to repair muscles.

How to Take Them

• Protein pills won't work as a meal replacement. They are a supplement that can be taken along with your regular meal. They can be taken pre-workout to provide you with energy for your workout. Just make sure to give your body time to digest your meal before working out. Otherwise, you can take them after your workout when your body is looking for protein to use to repair your muscles.

Pills vs. Shakes

• Another popular way to consume extra protein is in a shake. So is there an advantage to taking pills over shakes? It depends. Shakes will give you calories along with the protein. So if you are trying to gain weight, the shake is the way to go. A protein shake can also serve as a meal replacement. However, if you are trying to lose weight without losing muscle, the pills will give you the protein you need to maintain your muscle mass and reduce your calories so you can lose fat.

How Much?

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends 0.36 grams of protein for each pound of body weight. If you are looking to simply maintain your weight and avoid a protein deficiency, then this is the guide you should use. On the other hand, most bodybuilders and weightlifters consume at least one gram and sometimes as much as two grams of protein per pound. If you want to gain muscle mass, then use the guide that bodybuilders and weightlifters do.