About Nutrition Supplement Powders

Sports nutrition is big business, bankrolling close to a billion dollars annually while stocking store shelves with powdery mixes and pill packs designed to make a better you. Whether you're looking to pack on muscle, slim down to beach body status, or simply looking to lead a more health-conscious lifestyle, these varied products offer something to everyone who has a little money to burn and a fair idea of what they're after in their daily diet, though sometimes the choices can get confusing.

Types

• Products are designed with the consumer's goals in mind. The most versatile nutritional powder is whey (or soy) protein, as it can be added to nearly every diet plan to suit the needs of the individual. Whey is derived from milk solids, and soy is mostly plant based, and both have their proponents. As with nearly every powdered mix, a variety of flavors are offered. Other powders like creatine, which aids in retaining water in body cells, is popular among strength athletes but not for those looking to trim down. L-Glutamine (another muscle builder) and several energy-boosting products round out most companies' offerings.

Uses

• The main function of nutritional supplements like the powdery drink mixes is to supplement a person's daily diet. The marketing teams of the major manufacturers argue that all the required nutrients an athlete or regular exerciser needs cannot be obtained from food alone, thus the need to bolster food intake with concentrated forms of micro- and macro-nutrients. The powders mix easily with milk (cow or soy) or water, and in the case of protein, can be added to ice cream, cereal, or oatmeal.

Benefits

• Nutrition experts agree that those involved in regular exercise require additional protein, more so than that of sedentary individuals. The extra protein increases the building of lean muscle mass, which in turn increases the body's ability to burn fat. Creatine, a controversy that has been on the shelves for nearly 30 years, has no known side effects. Because the crystallized powder aids in keeping the cells hydrated, postworkout recovery times are shorter, and many users claim that creatine increases their strength and endurance, as well as gives their muscles a "pumped" look.

Manufacturers

• There's no shortage of supplement manufacturers. The store shelves may be packed with a multitude of names, but those with the longest track record seem to rise to the sales top. Companies like Designer Whey, EAS, Met-Rx (the originator of the protein shake), Pure Protein, and Muscle Tech are popular among supplement users and generally have the largest number of product offerings. Specialty stores such as supplement giant GNC stock these brands and more, as well as their own name-brand lines.

Warning

• Although they display an ingredient label, nutritional powdered drink mixes are not FDA-regulated, so the companies do not have to adhere to strict federal dietary guidelines. A recent study by a consumer protection group found that although nearly all powders contained exactly what their label faces claimed, some powders were high in sodium, sugar, and cholesterol. Nutritional powders aren't meant to treat any illness or disease, nor should they be used exclusively in lieu of food.