Protein supplements are some of the most popular supplements on the planet.
People use them for various reasons, including to build muscle, lose weight or improve their overall health and wellness.
However, many people wonder about the best time to take them.
This article explains the best time to take protein, depending on your health goals.
There are many types of protein
When it comes to essential nutrients, protein sits atop the list.
It’s a jack of all trades with many roles in the body. Protein is a source of energy, can help repair damaged tissue, is essential for growth, and plays a role in preventing infection and disease.
Protein is naturally abundant in foods like meats, fish, eggs, dairy products, grains, seeds, and legumes. It is also available as a dietary supplement, commonly known as protein powder.
Here are some of the most well-known protein powders you can buy.
- Whey protein: A dairy-based protein. It contains all the essential amino acids and is quickly absorbed.
- Casein protein: A dairy-based protein. It contains all the essential amino acids and is slowly absorbed, which is why people often take it before bed.
- Soy protein: A plant-based protein that contains all the essential amino acids. It has also been linked to some impressive health benefits.
- Pea protein: A plant-based protein. It has low levels of the nonessential amino acids cysteine and methionine.
- Rice protein: A plant-based protein with low essential amino acid lysine levels.
- Hemp protein: A plant-based protein made from hemp seeds that has high levels of fiber and essential omega-3 and omega-6 fats. Hemp protein is low in the amino acid lysine.
Protein powders are a helpful way to increase your protein intake if you’re always on the go. They are convenient, portable, and come in a variety of flavors.
To take protein powders, mix the powder with water or another liquid of your choice. Many popular supplement brands also sell ready-to-drink protein shakes.
Summary: Protein is an essential nutrient that has many roles in the body. It is found naturally in foods and is also available as a dietary supplement called protein powder.
When is the best time to take protein?
People often wonder when the best time to take their protein powder is.
This depends on your health and fitness goals. You may want to consume it at a particular time of day, depending on whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or preserve muscle.
Here are the best times to take protein based on your specific goals.
Losing weight
Protein is one of the most important nutrients for fat loss.
Eating a high-protein diet can help raise your metabolism and reduce your appetite.
Protein helps curb your appetite by reducing levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, all while increasing levels of appetite-reducing hormones like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and cholecystokinin (CCK).
This means consuming a protein-rich snack between meals may lead you to eat fewer calories later in the day.
One study found people who ate a high-protein yogurt snack during the afternoon ate 100 fewer calories at dinner compared to those who ate crackers or chocolate as an afternoon snack. The yogurt, crackers, and chocolate all provided the same calories.
To reap the most weight-loss benefits, eat plenty of protein-rich foods throughout the day.
Summary: Consuming protein-rich snacks between meals is ideal for fat loss. It may help curb hunger, leading you to eat fewer calories later in the day.
Building muscle
Protein is vital for building muscle.
To build muscle and strength, you must consume more protein than your body breaks down naturally during resistance training or weight lifting.
Suggested read: Do protein shakes work? Muscle gain and weight loss
The best time to consume protein for optimal muscle growth is controversial.
Fitness enthusiasts often recommend taking a protein supplement 15–60 minutes after exercise. This time frame is known as the “anabolic window” and is the perfect time for getting the most out of nutrients like protein.
However, recent research has shown that this window is much larger than previously thought.
According to the International Society of Sports Nutrition, consuming protein up to two hours after your workout is ideal for building muscle mass.
For the average person, resistance exercise and consuming sufficient protein are more important than timing protein intake.
That said, people training in a fasted state, like before breakfast, may benefit from taking protein shortly after a workout, as they haven’t consumed protein in a while.
Summary: To build muscle, aim to consume protein within two hours after working out. Like before breakfast, people who train in a fasted state should ideally take protein right after working out.
Preventing muscle loss
Maintaining muscle mass is especially important as you grow older.
Research shows that people lose roughly 3–8% of their muscle mass each decade after age 30. Sadly, losing muscle is linked to a higher risk of fractures and a shorter lifespan.
Scientists recommend spreading protein intake evenly throughout the day to help prevent age-related muscle loss. This means eating roughly 25–30 grams of protein per meal.
Most Americans eat around three times more protein at dinner than at breakfast. This makes consuming more protein at breakfast an ideal way to evenly distribute protein intake.
Summary: To help prevent muscle loss, aim to eat 25–30 grams of protein per meal. Taking a protein supplement at meals during which you consume less protein, such as breakfast, can help spread your intake over the day.
Exercise performance and recovery
Athletes often wonder when they should take protein for performance and recovery.
Suggested read: Post-workout nutrition: What to eat after a workout
For endurance training, combining protein with a source of carbs during and after exercise may improve performance and recovery and reduce soreness.
For example, a study of 11 cyclists found that taking a protein and carb beverage during training improved recovery and reduced muscle soreness compared to a placebo.
For resistance training, protein can help improve both performance and recovery, whether or not it’s consumed with carbs.
Eating enough protein is more important than timing protein intake for most people. However, athletes in resistance training can benefit from taking protein immediately before or after a workout.
Summary: Endurance athletes may see improved performance and recovery from taking protein with a source of carbs during and after exercise. Resistance-training athletes can benefit from taking protein immediately before or after a workout.
Should you take protein before bed?
The elderly and people looking to build muscle, increase strength and improve exercise performance and recovery can benefit from taking protein before bed.
In a review of studies, scientists concluded that taking protein before bed is an effective strategy to promote muscle building and help them adapt to exercise.
This is because protein consumed before bed is effectively digested and absorbed, increasing protein availability to muscles for recovery throughout the night.
Scientists from that study recommended consuming 40 grams of protein before bed to maximize muscle growth and adaptation through the night.
In another study of 16 healthy elderly men, half the participants consumed casein protein before bed, while the other half consumed a placebo. The study showed consuming casein protein before bed promoted muscle growth, even in less active elderly people.
If you want to take protein before bed, you may consider taking a form of casein protein. Casein is digested slowly, which means it can provide the body with a steady supply of protein through the night.
You can also get the benefits of casein protein from natural foods instead of supplements. Dairy products like cottage cheese and Greek yogurt are high in casein.
Summary: Taking protein before bed may be an effective strategy to help build muscle, increase strength and improve exercise performance and recovery. Elderly people looking to preserve muscle mass may also benefit from taking protein before bed.
Is too much protein bad for you?
A common myth is that consuming too much protein is bad for your health.
Suggested read: How protein shakes can help you lose weight
Some believe consuming too much protein can damage the kidneys and liver and cause osteoporosis, a condition in which people develop hollow, porous bones.
However, these concerns are vastly overblown and not supported by evidence.
More studies show you can safely eat plenty of protein without the risk of harmful side effects.
For example, a detailed review of more than 74 studies concluded that healthy adults don’t need to worry about how much protein they eat.
Most adults can benefit from consuming 0.6–0.9 grams of protein per pound (1.4–2.0 grams per kg) of body weight.
People who want to prevent muscle loss can stay on the lower end of that scale, while those wanting to lose weight or build muscle may eat at the upper end.
Summary: The myth that protein is bad for you is vastly overblown. Plenty of evidence suggests that healthy adults can eat large amounts of protein without experiencing harmful side effects.
Summary
Protein is an incredibly versatile nutrient.
Sufficient protein intake can aid fat loss, build and preserve muscle and improve exercise performance and recovery.
What’s more, taking it at the right time can further help you achieve your goals.
For example, consuming protein between meals may help curb hunger and reduce calorie intake later in the day.
Following some of the strategies above can enable you to better use protein in your everyday routine, helping you reach and maintain your health and fitness goals.
