Are you looking for the best protein shakes for men? There is no single protein powder that will make a suitable protein shake for every man. You have to select your powder with your health and fitness goals in mind. While it is easy to select powders based on popularity with other consumers, taste and price, those are the last things you should consider when selecting protein powder. If you know what you want your protein shake to do for you, it is easier to select powders that will create shakes that deliver the results you expect.
Your budget is important, and you do need a shake that has a taste you can tolerate. Those are factors you do have to consider, but the first step is always to find products that will help you reach your goals. If your shake doesn’t deliver the results you want, it isn’t worth any amount of money.
Some protein powders can actually work against your goals. For example, the best protein powder for a man trying to lose weight is different from the best protein powder for a man who needs to gain weight. A weight-gaining formula will contain too many calories and carbohydrates to benefit a man interested in losing weight.
This is why it is so important to read nutrition and ingredient labels to make the best protein shakes for men. The suggestions on this page will help you find a protein shake that is ideal for your fitness goals. Most of these recommended protein supplements sell at reasonable prices, and you can find many of them at sale prices online.
Weight Loss and Weight Gain
Many men use protein supplements to help them conserve calories while taking in more protein to build muscle. If you are overweight or obese, you will benefit from gaining lean muscle mass. The more muscle you gain, the more stored body fat you will burn everyday. Your ideal protein shake is low in calories, carbohydrates and fat but still contains a suitable dose of protein for muscle building and recovery.
One protein powder that sticks out for weight loss is XPI Myotein. One scoop of this protein contains just 146 calories, 1 gram of fat and 7 grams of carbohydrates. The carb content is a bit higher than many other protein powders on the market, but this formula has an added ingredient that helps with fat burn.
You get 26 grams of protein in each scoop. That protein comes from a blend of whey protein isolate, hydrolyzed whey protein and other proteins. The formula is designed to release protein to the muscles immediately after consumption and then gradually over time. Aminogen enzyme is added to the formula to help your body absorb the protein efficiently.
If you need to gain weight and want to make sure it is gained in muscle rather than fat, you need a protein powder that is much higher in calories. Rather than restricting calories, you are probably trying to boost your calorie intake through healthy, nutrient-dense foods. One protein powder that can help you do that is Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass.
For each scoop of this protein powder, you will consume 1,250 calories, 4.5 grams of fat, 253 grams carbohydrate and 50 grams of protein. Obviously, this is not an ideal protein shake for most men. It is ideal for those serious about gaining weight or putting on serious muscle. The protein content is high, and the calories are far higher than most other protein powders. That is what makes this idea for men with high calorie intake limits.
Weight loss and weight gain goals often overlap with other goals, so continue reading this page to find more protein powder suggestions that may meet your fitness needs. For instance, the next section contains pre-workout shake suggestions that work well for men trying to lose weight.
Pre-Workout Energy and Meal Replacement Shakes
Many men focus on post-workout protein supplements because they want to support their tired, injured muscles as they start the recovery process. While that is important, many men benefit from pre-workout protein supplementation as well. If you take a supplement before and after your workout, your muscles receive even more support for the protein synthesis process.
One of the best pre-workout protein shakes for men is Muscletech Nitrotech Whey Isolate Lean Musclebuilder. This powder combines ultra-pure whey protein isolate with creatine. This protein powder packs 30 grams of whey protein and 3 grams of creatine per serving. Creatine provides energy to your muscles so that you can push harder and workout longer, getting more out of every workout session.
One scoop of this powder contains just 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 2 grams of carbohydrate. This makes it suitable for men trying to lose weight, especially with the creatine enhancement which can lead to a more energized workout that burns more calories.
Many men look for protein shakes that can serve as the base for a good meal replacement. A standard protein powder will not work in this case because it won’t offer the nutrients and fiber needed to complete a meal replacement. One option that does work well is Optimum Nutrition 100% Oats and Whey.
This is a blend of fiber-rich oats and whey protein. The protein is a blend of whey isolate and whey concentrate. Normally, whey protein isolate is considered superior to whey concentrate, but that is not necessarily true for a meal replacement shake. Whey protein concentrate contains more nutrients that are advantages when creating a meal replacement shake.
Each scoop of this supplement contains 204 calories, 22.2 grams of carbohydrate, 1.3 grams of fat and 24 grams of protein. The advantage is the 4 grams of fiber because that is what will keep your stomach feeling full between meals. You can add fresh fruits and vegetables to the mix to create a nutrient-dense replacement shake.
After-Workout Supplement for Muscle Building
Most men use protein shakes an after-workout supplement to aid protein synthesis and muscle recovery. Optimum Nutrition Platinum Hydro Builder is a safe bet for most men regardless of their specific health and fitness goals. This formula is designed for muscle building, but it is also reasonable in terms of calorie, fat and carbohydrate content. It can work for someone trying to lose weight, and the serving can be doubled for those with higher calorie and protein intake needs.
Each scoop of this protein powder contains 170 calories, 30 grams of protein, 2 grams of fat, 7 grams of carbohydrate and 1 gram of fiber. A two-scoop serving delivers 60 grams of protein for just 340 calories, which is reasonable for men trying to gain weight or build serious muscle.
As you compare these protein shake options, keep your fitness goals in mind. You want to select the protein powder that will help you reach those goals without working against you in any way.