You’re at the beach, on a gorgeous summer’s day, soaking up the sun and having fun in the water. Your hair is washed and dried, and you’ve just finished showering. You’re feeling relaxed and calm – ready to take on the world and anything that comes your way. Suddenly, you feel a tap on your shoulder. It’s your personal trainer, there to put a smile on your face and get you working hard again. He’s heard about your new found love for being on your own and decides to punish you a bit by dumping a heavy bag on your head, before strapping on your trainers and sending you out for a jog.
What would your reaction be if, instead of the workout scene at the beach, this was your actual scenario? Most of us would be pretty upset, but there’s a difference between being upset and being pleased. You had a bad day and now you get to start over again. That’s something to be excited about.
The difference, as you’ll soon learn, is muscle milk. If you’re unfamiliar, muscle milk is the liquid that your muscles make when they’re activated. If you’ve ever been really active, done a bit of lifting, or even just walked down the street, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. If you feel like you could do with a little less of it, then you’re in the right place. If, on the other hand, you need a bit more of it, then maybe you’re in the wrong place. That’s what I’ll be talking about today.
Where does the Name Come From?
Muscle milk, also commonly known as workout milk, is named after the sugary liquid that your muscles produce when they’re activated. If you’ve ever seen cartoons or read comics, you’ll probably know exactly what I mean. The cartoon characters will often be seen with big glasses of milk, which they guzzle down, after a heavy workout. If you’re not very active and have a bit of a milk allergy, then you might not like the idea of drinking your muscle juice. Nevertheless, if you’re feeling energetic and strong enough to handle a dairy product, then you can be sure that muscle milk is a healthy choice. It’s also one of the most economical beverage options, when compared to buying bottled water or having it delivered.
Why do People Drink It?
Muscle milk has been around for a while now and has been consumed for both health and fitness reasons. Over the years, people have discovered that drinking this beverage before and after their workouts significantly aids in their weight loss efforts. The science behind this phenomenon is actually pretty cool. When you engage in physical activity, your muscles produce glucose (sugar) as a byproduct. This glucose can either be converted to energy or removed from the body as waste. If you want to be able to lose weight, then you need to maintain healthy levels of glucose in your system. If you consume carbohydrates, after a workout, your body will produce more insulin, which helps the glucose enter your cells and be used for energy. This is why people who consume carbohydrates, after a workout, experience a boost in energy levels and ultimately, lose weight.
If you want to be able to drink muscle milk and get the benefits, then you should try to avoid eating carbohydrates, at least two hours prior to your workout. When you work out, your muscles are busy processing the food that you ate before your workout, which makes it more difficult for your body to use the glucose produced from the foods that you eat during the workout. This is why it’s best to drink a glass of milk (or other dairy product) immediately after your workout. The more frequent and lasting the stimulation of your muscles, the more their natural ability to produce energy will be manifested and the more you’ll be able to lose weight.
What are the Health Benefits?
The health benefits of muscle milk are many. It contains vitamin A, which is important for your immune system and vision. It also contains vitamin C, which is needed for proper collagen synthesis. Furthermore, it provides your body with essential minerals, like potassium, magnesium and zinc. These minerals are crucial for cell growth and energy levels. If you’re not getting these minerals from food sources, then you may be deficient. In worst cases, this can lead to health problems. For example, if you’re a woman and are unable to produce enough vitamin C, then you may develop scurvy, which is really unpleasant and not something to look forward to. Drinking muscle milk will help to prevent this as it provides your body with all of the nutrients that it needs to stay healthy.
How Effective is it?
To begin with, we need to establish how effective muscle milk is, when compared to alternatives. According to research, which examined the rate of weight loss among different groups of people who drank different beverages after working out, those who drunk milk, lost on average, 2.7 kg (5.6 lbs) more than those who didn’t drink any kind of post-workout beverage. This is quite a substantial amount of weight, especially if you consider that those who drank water lost 0.9 kg (2 lbs), while those who consumed a sports drink (containing glucose and carbohydrate) lost 1.8 kg (3.7 lbs).
From this, we can see that drinking muscle milk, after a workout, is the best option. It’s easy to get and affordable. It provides you with all of the nutrients that you need and helps you to shed the weight. If you’re looking to lose a bit of weight, then drinking muscle milk is certainly a healthy choice. It also helps to promote general wellness, by increasing your body’s vitamin and mineral levels. If you’re not getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet, then supplements may be a way to address this. However, if you are able to get these nutrients from food sources, then maybe try cutting back on the supplements and focus more on eating healthily.
Where Can I Buy It?
Muscle milk is available to purchase at most grocery stores, health food stores and even some supermarkets. If you want to lose a bit of weight, then it’s probably best to buy it at a health food store, to be sure that you’re not harming your body with any additives or chemicals. Ensure that the brand and the type of milk that you buy is suitable for your body’s needs. Some people need the dairy protein content to be reduced, while others need more of it. Check the ingredients carefully before purchasing and make sure that they’re natural and don’t contain any questionable substances. If you can’t find it in your local supermarket, then try asking the manager if they’ve heard of or sold it before. Sometimes, small independent grocery stores, that specialize in health foods, don’t get carried by major supermarkets, which can leave you with nowhere to purchase the products that you need, if you don’t live in a large urban area.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a place to buy and drink protein shakes, then look no further. They’re all the same, with the same basic ingredients and have the same effect on your body. The difference is in the way that they’re made and the kind of milk that they contain. The best option is natural, organic whole milk, which is high in fat and contains all of the important nutrients that your body needs. If you don’t want to consume dairy products, then go for a plant-based option, which many people prefer, due to their healthy image. The choice is entirely up to you, though. You may choose to lose weight, by consuming carbohydrates, after your workout, or you may choose to shed the extra fat, by avoiding them. What you need to remember is that, eventually, you’ll have to make a decision. The key point is that, whatever you decide, you’ll be making the right choice for your own body.