Why Professional Athletes are Ditching Their Protein Shakes

Nutrition is ever evolving. Athletes are constantly seeking ways to optimise their diets for peak performance and to recover faster.  

While protein shakes have long been a cornerstone of athletic nutrition, they lack the complete macro profile necessary for a well-rounded diet, often containing solely protein and little healthy fats, vitamins or minerals. 

Enter the new contender – superfood meal shakes - that will help you level up from exercise enthusiast to athlete in your active lifestyle.   

Athletes like Irish pro cyclist Dillon Corkery, ex Leinster & Ireland rugby player Fergus McFadden and North Melbourne AFLW player, Erika O'Shea all use superfood meal shakes regularly

Let's delve into:

• The nutritional difference between a superfood shake vs protein shakes
• Why you need more than protein to sustain an active lifestyle

Superfood Meal Shake vs Protein Shake

Whole Supp is a superfood meal shake with 31g of protein and 13 superfoods. Here is how it compares to a protein shake:

If we compare ingredients, a vegan protein like one from Protein Works contains:

Protein Blend [Soy Protein Isolate, Pea Protein Isolate, Pumpkin Seed Protein, Sunflower Protein, Brown Rice Protein], Fat-Reduced Cocoa Powder, Flavouring, Sweetener (Sucralose), DigeZyme® (Amylase, Protease, Cellulase, Beta-D-Galactosidase, Lipase).

Whilst a superfood meal shake like Whole Supp contains:

Sustainably sourced red sea Algae, Montmorency Cherry Powder, Broccoli Powder, Beetroot Juice Powder, Spinach Powder, Pea Protein, Rice Portion, Gluten-Free Ground Oats, Sunflower, flaxseed, coconut, and MTC Oils.

And whilst protein shakes are packed full of protein, a superfood shake also contains:

• 13 superfoods
• 5g of BCAA’s
• Electrolytes
• 13g of healthy fat
• 7g of fibre
• High in antioxidants
• Over 30+ vitamins and minerals
• Less than 1.8g of natural sugars

It is enriched with an array of nutrient-dense ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and plant-based proteins. 

All this helps to boost energy during workouts and speed up recovery afterwards.

You need more than protein

Athletes and anyone working out need a comprehensive blend of macronutrients and micronutrients to fuel their bodies optimally: 

• Slow-release carbs are also essential to an active lifestyle, as they’re an energy source that keep you going through busy days and heavy workouts.
• Healthy fats, your body wouldn’t be able to absorb important vitamins like Vitamin A, D and E.
• Fibre is needed to support digestion
• Antioxidants help fight inflammation post-workout

Relying solely on protein shakes may leave athletes deficient in other vital nutrients and limit how much energy they can have, potentially compromising their performance and overall wellbeing. 

Protein shakes are great to boost protein in meals (e.g. adding it to yogurt in the morning) and increase your overall protein intake. 

Whilst getting a well-rounded superfood meal shake ensures you get: 

1. Sustained Energy: When superfood meal shakes contain complex carbohydrates like oats, brown rice and peas it offer sustained energy to support athletes through intense workouts and competitions, so you don’t feel completely puffed out 20 minutes into your workout. They help maintain stable blood sugar levels, preventing energy crashes and maximizing endurance. 
2. Enhanced Recovery: Superfood meal shakes are formulated with ingredients known for their anti-inflammatory properties, such as beetroot and tart cherry. These ingredients promote faster recovery, reduce muscle soreness, and support overall recovery, enabling athletes to bounce back quicker and train harder. 
3. Gut Health: A healthy gut is essential for and immune function. Whole Supp’s superfood meal shakes, for example, are rich in fibre, supporting digestive health and promoting a balanced gut microbiome. By nourishing the gut, these shakes enhance nutrient absorption and reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues during training. It is hard to eat just before or after a workout without feeling nauseous, but customers of Whole Supp don’t have this because our shakes are packed with prebiotics and fibre.  

Introducing Whole Supp

We created Whole Supp to fulfil your athletic needs, keeping you sustained and giving you a full macro-profile to support your active lifestyle, without the hassle of worrying about whether you're getting enough of each nutrient.

Ready in seconds, a Whole Supp shake can be consumed before or after your workout, ensuring you have the necessary slow-release carbs to stay fuelled throughout, and promoting blood flow to your muscles after to improve recovery. 

Try all of these wholesome benefits with our original shake, which you can get discounted with a free shaker and free shipping here for just £29.99 or €34.99! 

Dr Brian Carson, Co-Founder of Whole Supp and PhD in Physiology, says: 

“Whole Supp is designed to help maintain your energy levels and performance throughout the day. There are several bioactive nutrients included in our formulation which have been proven to have an influence on exercise performance, including the nitrate content of our beetroot, cherry and spinach extracts. In addition, our unique vitamin and mineral formulation can support active lifestyles with key B vitamins and minerals, like iron, necessary for maintaining performance in the short and long term.”  

It’s time to ditch your protein shake  

Whether you’re gearing up for a day of training, a long commute or back-to-back meetings, we can all benefit from sustained energy and solid recovery when resting.

Stay active for longer with our science-backed approach to nutrition and performance. 

Take a Whole Supp before or after your workout, or as a breakfast / lunch on a busy day.

If you’re curious to try our superfood meal shake, you get when you subscribe to 2+ bags (1 bag = 15 meals or 30 snacks) a free welcome gift with a free shaker, two free travel sachets as well as free shipping!