Amino Acids Vs Protein Powder

Amino acids vs protein powder: Discover how to best supplement your dietary protein intake and meet your wellness goals.

Protein Powder vs Amino Acids

What Are Amino Acids? 

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and you can think of them as LEGO bricks.

Each one is a different shape and color, but they all snap together to build something bigger — in this case, proteins.

It follows that amino acids are used by your body to perform functions such as building and repairing muscle tissue.

There are 20 amino acids, 9 of which are essential. 

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must come from the food you eat.

Foods that contain all of the essential amino acids are called “complete proteins.”

Some people prioritize complete proteins over other incomplete protein sources, but there is usually no advantage to doing so.

This is because if you eat a balanced diet, even a plant-based diet, you will get all of the essential amino acids that your body needs.

In fact, research shows less than 1% of adults do not meet the Estimated Average Requirements for each essential amino acid.

Note that it is possible to get amino acids from supplements, which many people refer to as “amino acids” or “BCAAs.”

Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements consist of 3 essential amino acids: valine, leucine, and isoleucine.

The thought is that because leucine, isoleucine, and valine make up approximately 17% of human skeletal muscle, adding them to your diet can help boost muscle growth and enhance exercise performance.

The research into the effectiveness of BCAA supplementation is inconclusive, however, and it is unclear if supplementing BCAAs is actually helpful.

In most cases, eating a balanced, high protein diet will give you more than enough BCAAs.

What Is Protein Powder? 

Protein powder is a dietary supplement designed to help you increase your protein intake.

It can easily be added to smoothies, oatmeal, and other recipes.

All protein powders contain amino acids, although the amino acid composition varies depending on the type source.

That said, if you are getting your protein from a variety of sources, you do not need to worry about which or how many amino acids are in your protein power.

Moreover, you only need to add protein powder to your diet if you need to fill in nutritional gaps.

Protein powder is a supplement and should not replace other protein sources.

Should I Use Amino Acids or Protein Powder? 

Most protein powders contain all 9 essential amino acids, whereas BCAAs only contain 3.

It therefore does not make much sense to take BCAAs instead of protein powder.

Some athletes use BCAAs to add extra amino acids to their diet, but, again, the advantages of doing so are negligible.

I therefore do not recommend you spend your money on BCAA supplements. 

And I only recommend protein powders to people who struggle to meet their daily protein needs.

It is important to add that not all protein powders are created equal.

In most cases, the type of protein powder that you use does not make a difference.

Whereas research indicates that certain proteins may have a slight edge in promoting lean muscle mass, the overall differences between different protein sources are minimal.

Ingredients do matter, however,

Many protein powders contain added emulsifiers, thickeners, and other additives that can not only upset your stomach, but also alter the composition of your gut microbiome.

This can lead to gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, which is associated with the onset and progression of several chronic diseases.

This is why we make Drink Wholesome from a short list of simple ingredients.

Our Ingredients

egg whites

coconut

vanilla

monk fruit

NOT Our Ingredients

• acacia gum

• acesulfame potassium

• artificial flavors

• carrageenan

• erythritol

• guar gum

• inulin

• maltodextrin

• 'natural' flavors

• silica

• soy lecithin

• sucralose

• xanthan gum

• xylitol

Unlike most protein powders, our Protein Powders can help you meet your protein needs without causing side effects or long-term health problems.

Order Samples to see for yourself.