What to Mix Protein With for Weight Loss

Protein powders are essential for every athlete, avid gym-goer, and any person who’s on a weight loss journey. And it’s clear to see why – they are the best way to get some more protein in while not consuming a ton of calories and getting a bit of a sweet treat. Having said that, on the market, you can find all kinds of protein powders – vegan, dairy-free, whey, whey isolate, and so on and each of them has its own unique profile.

Some are sweeter, others have no sugar, and some are higher in calories than others. And so, which kind you choose typically depends on your end goal – do you drink protein for athletic performance, for building muscle, or as a way to get some extra help while losing weight?

In this article, we’re going to focus on the third scenario – using protein powder as a way to help your body adapt to a new diet while losing weight. We will be talking about what kind of protein you should go for and what to mix it with for better results. So, if that sounds like your cup of tea, then keep on reading.

What’s the Best Protein Powder for Weight Loss?

If you Google “protein powders,” you will get dozens of results – vegan protein powders, natural protein powders, whey protein powders, and so on. The list is literally endless – in fact, today, you can probably find a good protein powder from every kind of source imaginable, from hemp seeds to egg whites.

And even though that should technically be better for the consumer (more choice and all), it actually tends to be highly confusing, especially if you’re starting out in the health and fitness world and you have no idea what the best option is.

Thankfully for you, we’re more than happy to help and give you the three things you have to look for when choosing what protein to buy next.

Calories per Serving

When you’re trying to lose weight, you tend to focus on foods that have minimal calories because that means you can have more of them. Typically, protein powders have anywhere around 100 – 150 calories per serving, and the amount usually depends on the sugar content of the supplement.

Sweeter protein powders tend to be more calorie-dense in comparison to the more natural ones that have fewer calories. Additionally, whey isolate protein powders are generally lower in calories and higher in proteins compared to all other kinds on the market, which is why they typically get recommended to people on weight loss journeys.

Protein per Serving

The main reason you supplement with protein powder is so that it can be easier for you to reach your protein target for the day. That’s why choosing one with a minimum of 20 grams of protein per serving is a good idea. If you’re getting any animal-derived protein powder, that is definitely not a challenging goal to achieve, however, if you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options, then you might have to do a bit more digging to find one.

Carbohydrate Content

Carbs are definitely not the enemy, yet still, it’s an excellent tip to avoid protein powders with high carb content per serving. That’s typically anything above 5 grams per serving. You have to remember that more carbs don’t always equal a better taste – in fact, there are some isolate powders that have close to zero carbs per serving and that taste better than ones filled with sugar.

How to Mix Your Protein Powder for Weight Loss?

There are three main ways to mix your protein powder – with milk, with plant milk, or with water. When it comes to weight loss, all of the options can be good, depending on several factors. If you prefer to have your protein with any kind of animal milk, it’s a good idea to opt for one that is fat-free because it will contain fewer calories per serving. However, it will still make the shake taste good. If you’re on the plant-based wagon and you love oat milk, the same tip applies – choose a milk that has little to no sugar and minimal calories per serving. Of course, if you’re on an extreme diet, water is your best protein powder mixer – contrary to popular belief, mixing protein with water doesn’t always mean it will taste bad. In fact, if your protein powder is of high quality, then the taste will likely not be all that different.

In Conclusion

We hope that this article helped you on the way to navigating your weight loss journey – just remember that there’s no magic supplement or not one step that will make that much of a significant difference. It’s all about consistency and good preparation when it comes to losing weight.