Why Organic Proteins Are Your Best Fitness Ally

The importance of consuming adequate protein is something we quickly discover on the journey towards fitness and health. After all, this vital macronutrient is one of the best supporters of muscle growth, repair, and recovery, and it enhances performance and even helps prevent injury by optimising metabolic functions and helping us to create and maintain lean body mass.

Recommendations for the amount of protein per day required to improve our fitness metrics vary from source to source, and different amounts may be needed depending on your goals and activities. But the basic guideline is that we each need anywhere from 1.2-2.2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight, meaning that a 70kg person hoping to build muscle and improve lean body mass will need to consume between 84-154 grams per day. With eggs containing just over 6g of protein, 100g of steak providing just over 20g and 125g of tofu containing a little more than 21g, it can be a challenge to pack in enough protein each and every day. That’s where a high-quality protein powder offers an easy (and hopefully delicious!) way to ensure optimal protein to help you reach your fitness goals.

But with so many protein powders available, how do we make the best choice? Here are our hot tips on making the selection:

1. Stick to organic proteins.
   Choosing organic means fewer pesticides, fertilisers, GMOs, and other harmful chemicals and additives. Reducing your chemical load has benefits far beyond fitness, not just for your body but also for the environment.

2. Prioritise plant proteins.,
   Look for pea, pumpkin seed, rice and quinoa proteins, with some formulas offering a combination of all. Each of these clean, vegan protein sources offers particular benefits, so it’s great to include a number of them in your diet. Quinoa protein is an unusual source that contains all nine essential amino acids, pumpkin seed protein is especially rich in magnesium for muscle health and recovery, rice protein promotes optimal muscle recovery with its complete amino acid profile, while pea protein is particularly high in branched-chain amino acids, such as leucine, which stimulates the synthesis of muscle proteins.

3. Favour fermentation.
   When high-quality plant proteins are fermented, it significantly increases their digestibility, meaning that the discomfort and bloating often experienced when taking plant-based proteins is minimised. Fermentation can also improve flavour and texture and enhance the bioavailability of amino acids in plant proteins.

4. Gather the greens.
   Green powders, including alfalfa, barley, wheat grass and more, are some of the most highly sought after organic supplements in Australia, and for good reason. These glorious greens are potent sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that help to optimise recovery from exercise by reducing inflammation. Other additions, like artichoke, coriander and parsley, can help to improve detoxification processes in the body. The great news is that some high-quality protein powders include these greens!

5. Boost the berries.
   Look for plant protein powders that include berries, like blueberries and cranberries, that offer further antioxidant benefits for overall health and exercise recovery.

6. Make the most of mushrooms.
   Medicinal mushrooms are making waves! A plant protein powder that includes functional fungi like cordyceps, maitake, reishi and shiitake is providing you with unique polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds that support muscle repair and immune function, offer antioxidant protection, and even enhance energy production.

7. Choose natural flavours and spices.
   Traditional flavour inclusions like cocoa and cinnamon not only taste great, but can supercharge your protein powder with remarkable health benefits. Cocoa, famously rich in antioxidants, flavonoids and magnesium, has been shown to reduce exercise-induced inflammation and oxidative stress while cinnamon helps support healthy blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, assisting the maintenance of optimal metabolic health.

The right plant-powered powder can make meeting your protein goals a breeze, helping you reach your health and fitness goals faster, while providing your body with organic, wholefood goodness.