Shaking Up Your Diet Plan

If you're one of the millions of people who've made a resolution to lose weight and get in shape, a study published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism offers supplemental advice. Researchers compared the thermogenic effects of protein shakes versus bars in both active and inactive male subjects between the ages of 19 to 28.

Energy expenditure was measured before and every 30 minutes after a meal for a total of 210 minutes. As you might expect, the guys who actively lifted weights, played sports and ran had a significantly higher resting metabolic rate when compared to couch potatoes. Shakes increased thermogenesis more than protein bars, but only in weight trained subjects.

True Strength Moment: There's a reason why weight lifters have been drinking protein shakes for decades. The amino acid support helps reverse the breakdown that occurs during training and trigger a rebuilding process that results in bigger, stronger muscles. If you get a little thermogenic support in the bargain, consider it a bonus.