Best Protein Powders And Supplements For Summer

Summer is just around the corner, and you know what that means: lots of opportunities to rock nothing but swim shorts and sandals all day long. It also means if you’ve waited until now to start working on your beach bod, you might need a little help to speed up the process so you’re feeling at your best when it comes time to go sans shirt.

The Best Protein Powders And Supplements

If you’re hoping to shed some winter layers and pack on muscle ahead of beach season, the following protein powders and supplements can give you a boost.

RELATED: Top 10 Protein Powders You Can Trust To Get Results

Top Protein Powders And Supplements For Summer:

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00CHJ45FI” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Whey Protein Isolate[/easyazon_link]

Whey protein isolate is one of the best and most bioavailable sources of protein to take for increasing muscle mass. Whey protein is one of the two proteins found in milk (with the other being casein), and is processed to remove excess fat, lactose, carbohydrates, and any other naturally occurring ingredients to make whey protein concentrate. When whey protein concentrate (which contains about 80% protein per 100 g) is filtered down even more, it becomes whey protein isolate. Whey protein isolate provides up to 90% protein per 100 g and contains almost no lactose, making it suitable for those who are lactose sensitive.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B00CHJ45FI” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Protein Impact Whey Isolate[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00CHJ45FI” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

MyProtein’s Impact Whey Isolate provides over 22 g of bioavailable protein per serving, as well as high levels of the essential amino acids and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), which are important for repairing, maintaining and rebuilding lean muscle tissue following exercise. Impact Whey Isolate is one of the more affordable protein powder’s on the market, and also comes in a variety of tasty flavors such as Rocky Road, Salted Caramel and Strawberry Cream.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00CHJ45FI” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYJ0PW” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Casein[/easyazon_link]

Casein, the other protein found in milk, is known as a “slow protein” because the body digests casein’s amino acids in a slow and steady manner, which means less protein is oxidized or wasted and more can go towards building and repairing muscles. Although whey protein isolate is more bioavailable for your muscles right after a workout, casein is great to take at night before bed because it’s slow absorption means you can continue to boost muscle repair while you sleep.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYJ0PW” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Optimum Nutrition 100% Casein Protein, Creamy Vanilla[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYJ0PW” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

Optimum Nutrition’s Casein Protein has 24 g of slow-digesting micellar casein, 60% of the daily value for calcium, almost 5 g of BCAAs (leucine, lsoleucine and valine) and 5 g of naturally occurring glutamine and glutamic acid per serving. Mix it in a shake or whip up a tasty protein pudding for a muscle-building bedtime snack.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYJ0PW” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B006OC432E” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Hydrolyzed Whey Protein[/easyazon_link]

Hydrolyzed whey protein is essentially whey protein isolate that’s gone through yet another round of processing, breaking it down into smaller protein fragments for more rapid digestion. Because hydrolyzed whey is digested faster than other forms of whey protein, that means those muscle-building aminos are fast-tracked to your muscle fibers, which helps to enhances growth. Hydrolyzed whey protein can be a bit pricier than whey protein isolate, so keep that in mind when choosing the right post-workout protein supplement for you.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B006OC432E” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Dymatize Nutrition ISO 100 Hydrolyzed 100% Whey Protein Isolate, Gourmet Chocolate[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B006OC432E” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

Dymatize Nutrition’s ISO 100 Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate is the ultra-processed (and therefore fast-acting) version of their whey protein isolate, delivering essential amino acids and 24 g of high-quality whey protein to your muscles per serving. It mixes well on it’s own with just water or milk, and contains very little lactose and no artificial sweeteners.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B006OC432E” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B0013OXD38″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Creatine[/easyazon_link]

Supplementing with creatine can help increase the body’s ability to produce energy rapidly, which is why most body builders and power lifters take this supplement before hitting the gym—more energy means you can train harder and more often, which equals faster results. Although creatine is effective for short and intense bouts of exercise, such as strength training and sprinting, it hasn’t been proven to provide any benefit for aerobic activity, such as running. Another thing to keep in mind with creatine: along with helping you pack on more muscle faster, creatine also pulls water into your muscle cells, which means you’ll gain a few pounds of water weight along with your muscle weight. So don’t be surprised if the scale creeps up when supplementing with creatine.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B0013OXD38″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]NOW Foods Creatine Powder[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B0013OXD38″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

NOW Foods Creatine Powder is 100% pure creatine monohydrate, and free of yeast, wheat, corn, soy, milk, additives and preservatives. For optimum results, mix one level tablespoon in fruit juice or another sweetened liquid three to four times a day, before and after exercise, for the first seven days. For maintenance use, take creatine one to three times daily, allowing three to four hours between doses.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B0013OXD38″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00XEVCKS2″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Glutamine[/easyazon_link]

Glutamine is a nonessential amino acid found in some protein powders and other recovery supplements due to it’s relative effectiveness in helping to remove exercise-generated ammonia from the body, repair and maintain muscle tissue after intense exercise, and support your immune system to keep illness at bay. If your post-workout protein powder doesn’t contain glutamine, you can buy a glutamine supplement in pill or powder form to take after your workout.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B00XEVCKS2″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]MyProtein L Glutamine[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00XEVCKS2″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

MyProtein L Glutamine is a relatively affordable flavored powder mix you can take to help improve muscle recovery and development after exercise. For optimum results, MyProtein recommends consuming 5 g, one to three times daily (once with breakfast, lunch and after your workout) with your preferred amount of water or fruit juice.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00XEVCKS2″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYIZIU” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]BCAAs[/easyazon_link]

Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) refers to three amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) important for muscle protein synthesis, and can be taken before or after a workout to help with muscle maintenance and growth. If you do an endurance workout first thing in the morning and don’t have time for/want breakfast beforehand, downing a drink mix of BCAAs can help provide some fuel for your muscles during exercise. When taken after a strength-training workout, BCAAs can help kick-start protein synthesis, which plays an important role in muscle building.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYIZIU” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Optimum Nutrition Instantized BCAA Powder 5000mg[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYIZIU” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

Optimum Nutrition’s BCAA Powder provides 5 g of BCAAs per serving with a 2:1:1 ratio of leuncine to isoleucine and valine. It comes in unflavored or flavored, so you can add it to your pre- or post-workout drink or mix it on its own with juice or water.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B002DYIZIU” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00NPZM302″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Capsaicin[/easyazon_link]

Capsaicin is the stuff found in hot peppers that makes you sweat, and when taken as a decent-potency supplement, can help to burn body fat and fight inflammation. If you eat a lot of hot and spicy food already, you might not need a high potency supplement to reap the benefits—but if you don’t, taking an extra hot cayenne pepper supplement might give you the added fat-burning boost you need. If you have a sensitive stomach, you might want to consider a milder cayenne pepper supplement to start.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B00NPZM302″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Cayenne 450 MG[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00NPZM302″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

At only $10 for 100 capsules, Nature’s Way Cayenne 450 MG is worth trying to see if it helps boost fat burning and reduces exercise-induced inflammation. Nature’s Way suggests taking one capsule with a meal, with up to three capsules a day. If you have a sensitive stomach, take the more is less approach. Also, if you tend to run hot, keep in mind this supplement will crank up your body heat.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00NPZM302″ locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[easyazon_link identifier=”B00PYB2X8C” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Pre-Workout[/easyazon_link]

A good pre-workout mix can help boost your strength, endurance and focus during your workout, which in turn will lead to faster and greater gains in the gym. Pre-workouts generally contain amino acids for muscle building; beta-alanine for muscle endurance; vasodilators to help increase blood flow (which gives you that muscle “pump”); and caffeine to boost your energy and performance. Pre-workouts often comes as flavored powder mixes you can add to water or juice.
Try: [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PYB2X8C” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″]Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre Workout – Fruit Punch[/easyazon_link]
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00PYB2X8C” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

This popular pre-workout is a great tasting fruit punch drink mix you can dissolve in water or juice and drink 30 minutes prior to your workout. It contains 175 mg caffeine from natural sources, 1.5 g beta-alanine, 3 g creatine monohydrate, and other vitamins and amino acids to help boost your energy, focus and endurance.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B00PYB2X8C” locale=”US” tag=”feedmen-20″][/easyazon_link]

[su_note note_color=”#d6e8ff” text_color=”#000000″]

Related Buyer’s Guides and FeedMen Lists:

• Top 10 Protein Powders You Can Trust To Get Results

[/su_note]

The post Best Protein Powders And Supplements For Summer appeared first on FeedMen.