Protein intake is the first thing that comes to mind whenever there is a conversation about fitness. It is one of the essential macronutrients and the most important one if your goal is fit. Unfortunately, in day-to-day life, food isn’t enough to cater to their protein requirements. 

In such a scenario, people rely on protein powder as their food supplement. Therefore, the supplement becomes quintessential to people engaging in an active lifestyle or aiming to reduce weight. 

The market is flooded with plenty of choices for a protein supplement, but you need to be careful before choosing one. 

You can find a different variety of protein powder in any direction you point your finger towards. However, in the sea of options, you need to choose the best one suited for your needs. Here’s a brief for you to make a choice easier for your protein supplement needs.

Animal Protein

The most commonly available protein comes from animal milk, generally cow, buffalo, or sheep. It is of three kinds: 

• Whey Protein: It is a natural by-product of milk. It’s most widely used because of its easy solubility, absorption, and inexpensive attributes. However, there’s another variant to whey protein, and that is Whey Protein Isolate. It’s a more filtered version of Whey Protein.
• Casein Protein: It is another kind of dairy protein that is mainly preferred as a pre-workout meal. Because of its slow digestion, it remains in the body for a longer duration.
• Egg White Protein: It is the main choice for people who wish to have the benefits of eggs but without cholesterol and fat content. It is a less popular choice than whey and casein but a more exhaustive nutritional supplement. 

Plant-based Protein

Plant-based protein is becoming people’s first choice for protein supplements with the rise in vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. You can find it in four variants: 

• Pea Protein: Made from split pea, it is one of the best gluten-free protein sources with all amino acids except methionine. People with dairy allergies also prefer it.

• Soy Protein: With the goodness of soy, this protein supplement is a choice for lactose-intolerant people. 

• Brown Rice Protein: Made from the most proteinaceous variety of rice, it doesn’t contain all the essential amino acids required to function properly. It is still effective as a supplement post-workout. 
• Hemp Protein: Derived from processing hemp seeds into a fine powder, it makes the best plant-based protein choice. It is also good for brain function as it carries several omega-3 fatty acids too. 

Among the fitness cautious and health-conscious people, protein makes for the most discussed macronutrient. The discussion is further widened with the individual choices of having an animal or plant-based protein. Each variety of protein comes with its own set of qualities and effects. 

The choicest way to know which protein supplement you should take is by analysing your daily activity. You can choose the protein powder you need based on your activity and goals with it. Moreover, you can take help from a dietician or an expert to chart out your daily requirements and choose the supplement accordingly. 

The crucial aspect of choosing the right supplement is its source. Buying it from a reputable supplier is the best way to take your supplement.