There has always been a demand for protein supplements in our country, but for a long time you could only buy them online. Because it is now increasingly available on Dutch shelves, the demand for protein supplements has become more visible.
“The use of protein powders is now more noticeable,” says Rene van der Zel, founder of XXL Nutrition, a major manufacturer of sports supplements. “Use has also generally increased in recent years. This is closely linked to the fitness industry: people who do fitness use the powders the most.”
Protein from food
Professional athletes in particular attach great importance to protein powders. “They use it to recover faster after sporting exertion.” Recreational athletes could easily get their protein from regular meals, but for many people it is also a matter of convenience.
“With a normal diet, you have to calculate, for example, how much chicken and cottage cheese you should eat for your proteins,” says Van der Zel. “A shake is simply easier and better to dose.” It remains important to continue to eat well in addition to protein supplements, he emphasizes. “Supplements are not a replacement for your regular diet but an addition to it.”
Grow maximum muscle mass
Most Dutch people consume more than the recommended amount of protein every day, says Pol Grootswagers, nutrition scientist at Wageningen University.
“In a regular meal with protein and vegetables, you also get other useful nutrients, such as fiber and vitamins.”
Useful for the elderly
According to Grootswagers, protein powder is primarily a useful tool for growing ‘maximum muscle mass’. “You might want that as a fanatic strength or top athlete,” says the scientist. “But older people also benefit from extra proteins to grow more muscle mass. Especially if they also do some muscle and bone strengthening exercises.”
After all, older people eat protein less often and lose more muscle mass. In preparation for a planned operation, for example on a hip or knee, it is therefore wise to consume more protein, according to Grootswagers.
“You lose a lot of muscle mass during a hospital stay, so if you make sure you have some more in advance, you will come out of the operation better.” Australian research also showed that elderly people who consumed more protein from dairy had a lower risk of bone fractures.
Effect unknown
Although no one knows exactly what the effect of a daily protein shake is on non-athletes, such a shake contains only a limited number of calories and can help create satiety. “You may eat less at the next meal,” says Grootswagers. “But we don’t yet know how effective it really is.”
2024-01-04 16:35:14
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