Should You Consider Protein Powder for Teenagers?

If your teenager is physically active like participating in daily exercises or sports, they may need protein powder after a workout or sport. With the right amount of protein in their diet, teens can also stay fuller for longer and maintain a healthy weight.

While certain protein powders or supplements are ideal for teenagers, do you know how much quantity is best for them? It is crucial to know that excessive protein intake is harmful to adolescents.

Protein Requirements of Teenagers

Every teenager requires protein in their daily diet. It is essential for the growth of their muscles, bones, and tissues. The amount of protein required for adolescents varies at distinct stages of their growth and development, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Generally, baby protein powder has a distinct amount of protein content than teenage protein powder because their protein needs are different. Girls and boys between 11 and 14 years of age require daily half gram of protein per kg of their body weight.

For instance, a 110-pound teenager requires 50g of protein per day. And, when he/she is between the age of 15 and 18, their protein needs drop slightly.

Protein Sources

Generally, a healthy diet covers one’s everyday protein needs. For instance, there are around 22g of protein in three ounces of fish, meat, and poultry. Two tablespoons of peanut butter include 10g of protein. And, milk glass of around 8 ounces has 10g of protein.

Likewise, protein powder for teenagers has a varying amount of protein. For instance, whey protein powder has around 25g of protein per serving. On the other hand, pea protein powder contains 25g of protein in each serving.

Safety of Protein Powder

Many teenagers think that they can only get sufficient protein from marketed protein powders. The main reason why teens are switching to protein powders is because of body image issues. Today, adolescents have more major body image issues than ever before.

So, to maintain their perfect physique and figure, adolescent boys and girls rely on protein powders to fulfill their daily protein requirements. However, having excessive protein can cause health issues like organ damage, as per the expert nutritionists.

This raises a question about the safety of protein powders. But there’s no need to worry. If teens or any other person wants to include protein powder in their daily diet, they need to look for protein powders that are already tried by others.

Third-party testing is a good way to verify whether the supplement includes what it advertises. It is a vital point to consider, as many unverified supplements contain certain unlisted ingredients that are even banned in athlete drug tests.

It is best to consider an experienced dietician or nutritionist before giving a protein powder to your teenager. Typically, a professional nutritionist or dietician can better guide you on whether or not to have a specific protein powder.

Conclusion

It is vital to educate adolescents about the advantages of a well-balanced diet. If protein supplements and powders are required, consult a doctor first to help you choose the best supplement for your needs. If a doctor suggests a protein powder, check whether it is clinically tested to ensure its safety.

Also, Visit here: Protein Powder for Kids: Pros, Cons, and Safety