Using Protein for Muscle Growth

When we want to build muscle, one of the first questions we often ask ourselves is "How much protein do I need for muscle growth?". It is a fair question because protein is an important factor for muscle development, there is no doubt about that. However there is some controversy regarding how much protein we really need and if protein supplements are worth the expense. Protein powders are a billion dollar industry and they are very well marketed.

Brad Pillon, a research scientist and former muscle-building supplement developer, has some interesting things to say on this subject. He reveals shocking discoveries that made him change his mind about how he looks at protein in his report Protein and Muscle.

Brad is truly an expert on this subject. He was the development and research manager of a health supplement company, and during this time had developed many supplements focused on protein and muscle growth.

The majority of the projects he was a part of concentrated on formulating various protein powders and other types of protein food and supplements to sell to consumers just like us.

If there was clearly a person who was completely confident that protein really was the vital "key" to muscle development - it was him. He was the guy shelling out 100's of dollars on high-protein foods and protein supplements every month, purchasing extra meat, consuming "slow-release" proteins at bedtime, and worrying himself sick if he didn't get his "protein-fix" every three hours.

Yet, in one Life-Altering Moment all his previous "beliefs" about protein were smashed. During an exclusive dinner in Scotland, Glasgow, he was just putting the finishing touch on a research contract that was examining the performance enhancing and muscle growth impacts of a new sports supplement.

At the closing comments of this dinner,the subject of protein naturally came up. He made the suggestion that incorporating protein into this new formula would enhance its muscle growth effects and would make the supplement easier to sell. The head scientist looked at him and stated (in a mocking tone):

“Brad, if you BELIEVE in protein, then we will add it into the formula”.

As soon as Brad heard this he realized that they understood something about protein and muscle that he didn't! He realized that he was missing out on some crucial information about the connection between muscle and protein!

Be sure to check out his report at Protein Muscle Growth, and to leave comments here about it. I would love to hear your opinions.

Best wishes

Darren

Protein Guilt - Do you Suffer With it?

Do you suffer with protein guilt? This is a form of guilt, and phrase coined by Brad Pilon, that many of us who workout and have some understanding of nutrition fall victim to. Here can read more about what this former research scientist and protein supplement creater by Clicking Here.

Let's think of a possible real word situation that can often come our way. We just had a great workout and now we are going around to our friends house because they have invited us to dinner. Now, whe are hoping that we are going to get a chicken breast with some broccoli, or some lean red meat with some a salad or some veggie. However, they bring you a pasta dish! So on your plate you have an average portion of around a 100 grams of pasta, 1/2 a cup of pasta source, some parmasan cheese and some chives. Not only that, but they serve you up some bread too.

We have in front of us what is considered a carbohydrate heavy meal, not really what is suitable after a weight lifting workout. Not to be impolite to your generous friends, (who don't hit the gym regularly and have a deep understanding of carb, protein and fat ratios) you eat the generous meal they have cooked for you.

Shortly after, when you get back home and your worried that you haven't eaten enough protein to support your workout, you reach for the milk. One cup of milk is about 10 grams of protein, so you drink 2 cups and get 20 grams of protein and you feel all is good. This is a perfect symptom that you suffer from protein guilt!

The reality is that the "carbohydrate meal" that you had at your friends actually contained about 25 grams of protein and delivered around 600 calories. It really is a decent meal. There is protein in the bread, protein in the pasta sauce, and of course protein in the parmasan cheese. There is also some protein in the pasta itself. In fact, most of the protein comes from the milk and eggs used for making the pasta and the bread.

So, the milk that we reached for wasn't really necassery and it just gave us around another 250 calories in addition to the meal we just ate!

To help ease your protein guilt and to discover some shocking, yet scientific truths about protein and muscle growth check out Brad's report at Protein Muscle Growth.