Fat Burning Protein Powder is a Myth, a Gimmick

Fat burning protein powder isn’t a real thing. So please don’t be a sucker and purchase a product that advertises itself as such.

“Fat burning” is a marketing gimmick used to promote all kinds of products. I don’t know how they are allowed to get away with it because it is patently untrue.

But they do it because it works. And it works well. Unwitting consumers gobble up “fat burning” foods because it sounds like a magical, easy way to lose weight.

Wouldn’t it be great if all we needed to do to lose weight was eat fat burning products. No exercise, no diet plan necessary. What a dream. It sounds too good to be true, and it is to get to be true.

The truth is that no food or product can “burn” fat. Everything we consume breaks down into the basic nutritional components of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. Each has its corresponding caloric content. Weight gain or loss is simply determined by how many calories taken in versus how many calories burned off. Period.

How to choose a good protein powder

So ignore protein powders that advertise as fat burning. Just analyze the ingredients and the nutritional content from the label of protein powders when making a buying decision. Most protein powders are actually very similar in nutritional composition.

The bulk of its content, after all, is protein isolate. Now, that protein derives from different sources such as soy, whey, and casein. But nutritionally, and calorically, they are similar. Some do have different additives, flavorings, vitamins, however.

But when it comes to weight gain and loss, you just need to focus on the caloric content. To lose weight, you have to burn more calories via exercise and body metabolism then you take in. It’s that simple, and there is no magic bullet that burns the fat away.

Protein powder can help you lose weight

All that being said, protein powder certainly benefits weight loss. Why?

Increasing dietary protein in general is a great way to suppress appetite and drop weight. Protein takes longer for the digestive system to process than carbohydrates and fats. It takes about three hours for protein convert to sugar and absorb into the bloodstream.

Women need about 45 g of protein a day and man about 55 g for bodily maintenance. Any extra protein consumed converts to sugar, but it’s a slow process.  This keeps you feeling full for longer, suppressing the need to consume more calories. It also keeps blood sugar levels stable, and prevent spikes.

Protein powder is also very lean. It contains almost zero fat. This is in stark contrast to most meats, which are the usual source of dietary protein. Animal meats, especially red meats, are often high in saturated fat. These are the unhealthy fats that raise cholesterol and contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Mix protein powder with other healthy food

For best results, you want to combine protein powder with other healthy sources of fat and carbohydrates. In this way, you can create a delicious and nutritionally balanced meal.

For example you may mix protein powder with oatmeal and other whole grains job complex carbohydrates. For healthy fats, throw in a few dashes of avocado or olive oil into the mix.

Making protein shakes or smoothies is a perfect way to incorporate more protein powder in your diet. Remember, though, that sugar absorbs faster from protein shakes than from whole foods because liquids digest faster than solids. Important for everyone to consider, but especially for diabetics.

Conclusion

I hope whenever you see the term “fat burning” on any product from now on, you turn and run. Because you now have the knowledge to not be a victim of that scam.

Please forgive my rant on the subject. I just don’t like to see people manipulated and taken advantage of by being offered false promises that are too good to resist.

Nevertheless, protein powder is a great addition to a healthy diet. And it can assist in weight loss. But you need to know how to combine protein powder with other foods to get the most out of it.

I personally prefer a good soy-based protein powder over the other types because it is neutral tasting. I like the flavor.  Also, soy is vegetarian, which is another plus in my book. Soy protein is complete just like animal-based protein, so there is no nutritional drop-off with soy. And whey-based protein powder tastes bitter to me.

Please let me know in the comments what you think on the subject. Thanks.

Photo: “Nutrition, well understood” by Jose C Silva is licensed under CC BY 2.0