Protein foods and supplements are one of the most important subjects for bodybuilders of every level. It doesn't matter if you're a professional bodybuilder or someone who just picked up weights for the first time, protein is essential for building muscle mass. In the quest to add more muscle mass lots of different protein drinks are purchased and consumed every day. There are new studies being performed on the effectiveness of the wide variety of protein types. People want to know which protein source is the best for adding lean muscle mass, so the debate about which is the best protein source is one that continues to rage on. One supplement that is surrounded by much controversy in the bodybuilding world is the soy protein shake. Many hardcore bodybuilders avoid soy like the plague, while others are beginning to integrate soy into their diets in increasing numbers.
The Soy Protein Shake - The Opposition
Protein Drink
There are some people that react emotionally to the idea of drinking a soy shake to increase muscle mass. There have been some rumors that indicate that soy actually diminishes muscle mass. Like any other rumor, once this particular one started, it spread like wildfire. No one wants to take a chance on losing valuable muscle mass. If there's even a slight chance that soy shakes could cause muscle loss, people don't want anything to do with these products. Are these rumors about soy protein shakes true, though?
The truth is that, like many rumors, the notion that soy diminishes muscle mass is patently false. Soy may not rank up there with the popular bodybuilding supplements, like whey and casein, when it comes to increasing muscle mass, but studies show that it does have some very positive benefits that everyone, bodybuilders and athletes included, should be very interested in. If you've subscribed to the school of thought that says soy shakes should be avoided, it's high time to rethink that position in the light of hard scientific facts.
Soy Protein Shakes - The Benefits of Soy
It's time for the bodybuilding community to give soy a little leniency. Soy is not going to replace whey protein or casein as the most important supplement for building muscle mass, but it has a lot of benefits that people need to consider. Here are some of the benefits of drinking a soy protein shake:
- Soy protein can reduce the risk of heart disease. This fact alone should get people more interested in adding soy to their diets. Heart disease is one of the most deadly diseases in the world. Millions of lives are impacted every year by heart disease. If you're a bodybuilder, you certainly want to do all that you can to stay healthy and strong for as long as you can. Soy protein can help to reduce the chances of heart disease, which can help everyone to live longer, healthier lives.
- Soy protein shakes contain a complete protein profile. Soy has one of the highest biological values of any protein. While it may not rank as high as whey protein, soy is tops in the nutritional scores when it comes to the amino acids it provides. One very interesting benefit to the biological make-up of soy is the fact that it helps to improve the nutritional value of other foods that you eat. The strong amino acid profile in soy shakes makes the other nutrients that you eat more beneficial to your health.
Don't Fear Soy Protein Shakes
There's actually a lot about soy shakes to be enthusiastic about. Soy protein is a plant based protein source. Food allergies and personal preferences make some sources of protein untouchable for many people. Lots of people hear about how they need to eat chicken breasts, fish and other animal protein foods, but what are vegetarians to do if they want to gain lean muscle mass? Soy protein is an alternative for people who are avoiding animal and milk protein products. Soy protein is also very digestible. There are some people that simply cannot digest certain foods well. If you can't fully digest a protein shake, you're not going to get many benefits from that supplement. A soy protein shake is easier to digest and can be a great source of protein for people with digestive issues.
Soy protein shakes can also be beneficial since soy is known to have fantastic antioxidant capabilities. Your body fights a lot of internal battles every day. From fighting off viruses to expelling internal chemicals, the immune system is always working. Some of the oxidants that your body fights off are actually created in response to heavy workouts. To help your body in the battle to rid itself of these toxins, soy protein shakes can be a potent ally. The healthier you are the easier it will be to gain muscle and lose fat.
Soy protein shakes can be a great boost to your immune system
As beneficial as soy shakes can be, they should never be used as a replacement for other protein sources. Bodybuilders should still rely on top quality protein drinks, like Profect as their primary supplements. However, soy shakes make a great companion to other, higher quality protein drinks and foods. Don't quit using protein supplements and drinks, like Profect to make room for soy protein drinks. Instead, a good idea would be to add a few soy shakes to your regular diet to take advantage of some of the health benefits that soy protein offers. Building muscle requires a complete nutritional plan. The scientific facts don't lie - soy protein shakes can be a huge benefit for bodybuilders and non-bodybuilders alike, so give them a try for your health's sake.