Protein Powder Vs Whole Food

Different people have different views on protein powder. Some people feel that it is best to avoid it because they don’t think of it as real food. Others think it’s a great way to meet their protein requirements.

So who’s right? What’s the real deal with protein powder? And what's the real difference between protein powder and real food?

Let’s look at the main points that you need to keep in mind when comparing the two.

The Calorie Content

One nice thing about protein powder is that it is very calorie controlled as most scoops are between 100-120 calories, regardless of what brand you use.

If you are one to count your calories, with food sources of protein you’ll need to get into weighing and measuring it each time you cook. And different protein sources do vary in their total calorie content.

For instance, 3 oz. of steak or salmon has more calories than 3 oz. of turkey or white fish because their higher fat count. If you are being good about tracking what you eat, you’ll need to account for this difference.

There is a bit more tracking involved when it comes to whole food.

The Additional Nutrients

As exampled above, some food sources of protein can be quite fatty. This can contribute a high amount of calories to your diet if you aren’t careful.

When talking about just a protein powder (as opposed to a meal replacement shake), most of them don’t have many grams of fats or carbs added to them. You’ll be looking at 3 to 5 grams at most for almost any variety.

This makes protein powder a very lean source of protein to take in. But at the same time, if you choose proper real food protein sources, you can find very lean ones as well.

The Convenience Factor

Simply put, powders make for a much easier way to get quality protein into your diet. There is not cooking. No reheating. It's fairly easy to transport in any shaker bottle (just add water when you are ready to drink).

The Satiety Factor

Finally, you need to think about the satiety factor. That is one place where protein powder absolutely can come up short.

Most people will not find protein powder nearly as satisfying as they will whole food. So if you are trying to combat hunger, you will want to stick with whole food as often as possible. Otherwise, you may find that you’re constantly hungry.

All in all, protein powder is an excellent way to help get your protein requirements met. But at the same time, you should never exclude real food from your diet plan. Protein powder is ranked as a "supplement" for a reason.

With my personal training clients, I have found that a balance is what yields the best possible results in terms of fat loss or muscle building. In my personal case, I have a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with a few healthy snack feedings each day. I can tell you that on any given day, at least one (if not two) of those snacks comes in the form of a protein smoothie of some sort.

Find what works for you. If you are having trouble with your nutrition, adding a protein supplement may be just what you need.