In a few words - it takes protein to build muscles. Protein is one of the three essential components of the human diet, along with carbohydrates and fats. It's composed of various types of amino acids and provides the raw material for both muscle construction and repair, as well as playing an important role in the immune system, the endocrine (hormone production) system, and the transmission of nerve impulses throughout the nervous system. The issue of whether an athlete requires protein supplements is hotly debated in the sports nutrition industry, so don't ignore a well-balanced natural food diet. However... high quality, concentrated protein products will repair the muscles stressed from a demanding workout more quickly than proteins consumed through food. Weight lifters and other high-powered athletes need more protein than normal person. A weight lifter or football player can easily go through 4,000 calories per day, compared with the roughly 2,000 calories a moderately active person burns. Don't expect miracles from protein supplements, you can't get an action-figure body so easy, but it's sure you'll need some extra proteins if you are an athlete. Don't consume more protein supplements than you need. Unlike carbohydrates, which have a particular series of storage mechanisms, such as muscle glycogen and liver glycogen, or the fats ingested in the body, which are stored in the adipose tissues designed for fat storage, excess proteins are broken down into their amino acid components for elimination. As a general rule, the ingestion of a protein supplement is likely to be more effective if consumed 30 to 60 minutes after the training event that resulted in muscle stress, rather than at a later time. The rest depends on your program.
