Supplements: Are Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders (MRPs) Useful?

Protein Powders and Meal Replacement Powders (MRPs) are some of the more popular supplements sold today and for the most part, they are above average in terms of quality and value. They also share a number of the same qualities, so I will discuss them together and point out the differences as they come up.

Both products come in powdered form, can be consumed any time during the day, and contain a significant amount of protein. The major difference is protein powders are usually 80-90% protein with few extra ingredients added to the mix. MRPs, on the other hand, typically have around 50-70% protein and have more carbs and other additional ingredients as well.

This makes sense, because MRPs are meal replacement powders, so they are supposed to have all the nutrition that would come in a complete meal. As a result they almost always contain a significant quantity of vitamins and minerals and sometimes other beneficial ingredients as too.

MRPs are very useful for people who want a nutritious meal that is transportable and can be fairly quickly prepared (using a shaker). The down sides are some people do not like the taste or texture of powdered food products (different brands and flavors taste differently) and you do pay more for the convenience of a quick and portable meal with added nutrients.

Quality MRPs typically run about $3 each (when not on sale), which many people feel is expensive, but this really depends on your situation and budget. If you are someone who frequently eats out, then $3 is probably much less than you would typically spend on a meal and the MRP is likely healthier as well.

On the other hand, you can prepare a healthy well-balanced meal at home for significantly less and bring it with you instead of using a MRP. The important thing to realize is most meal replacements don't provide too much more than you would get from a healthy balanced meal, so they are definitely not a necessity. This is especially true if you take a daily multi-vitamin/mineral.

Protein powders are similar in the sense that they are powdered and you typically make it into a drink, but since they don't contain as many other ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals, they cost less per serving than meal replacement powders.

To get the same amount of protein as in a meal replacement, it usually costs less than a dollar and sometimes closer to 50 cents, so if you are mainly looking for an easy way to increase your protein intake, protein powders offer a much better value. In many cases, protein powders even cost less per serving than traditional protein sources (e.g. meat) and they contain less fat than most animal protein sources.

Protein powders are probably one of the best supplement values around, due to the high quality of the protein and relatively inexpensive cost. They are also convenient, because you can take the powder with you anywhere and it mixes easily with a spoon, unlike MRPs, which are thicker and require more mixing.

However, it is best not rely on protein powders as your main protein source. Natural unprocessed foods should make up the majority of your nutritional program, but protein powders can be a great addition, especially if you find yourself having a hard time getting enough protein throughout the day

Depending on your particular nutritional program and schedule, MRPs and protein powders can both be great additions to your overall program. I think protein powders are more versatile, especially due to their ease of mixing, which allows them to be used in many ways.

Personally I mix protein powder in with my cereal as a way to add protein in the morning. Protein powders and MRPs also work well as a snack at night to get some protein and nutrients in your system without adding many extra calories that would likely be turned into fat while you sleep. These are just a couple examples, but you can use them any time when you need some extra protein

If you already get enough protein from your regular food sources, you don't have to include either of these products, but their mix of quality, convenience, and price can be hard to beat, especially with the protein powders.

However, I should point out that if you are not used to these types of products, the taste can be a little strange at first, but most people are still able to find at least a few products that taste alright. In any case, it is a good idea to see if there are samples or single serving packages before buying a large quantity of any product. Otherwise, be sure the store will let you return the product if you don't like it

As a group, meal replacement powders and protein powders are some of my favorite supplements. In general, they are not designed to give you special benefits that you could not get from eating healthy well-balanced meals and they are best thought of as tools you can use to fix problem areas in your nutritional program.

If you need a complete meal on the go, then MRPs can be a great choice and if you just need to increase your protein intake, protein powders are hard to beat. Just don't overdo it with the powders and remember they are meant to supplement occasional meals, not be the basis of your entire nutritional program.

Source:

14 years of experience and education in health and fitness