Every athlete, parent, and coach wants to know what the best protein supplement for baseball players is. Let’s start by saying this: If an athlete cannot establish a healthy nutrition plan with his food choices, then there is no point in giving him any information regarding supplements. Supplements are an addition to a proper nutrition game plan. Athletes, just like anyone else, need to start with the basics and become super diligent in mastering the basics before looking into supplementing (adding to) their plan.
That being said, let’s not waste your time with information you do not need. Here’s a quick and easy guide to whey protein!
What to Look For in a Protein Supplement
When looking at protein supplements, you want to keep a few things in mind.
1. You want to look for 100% Whey Protein.
- Whey is a byproduct of the cheese-making process and is a better form of protein than soy, egg, or casein when it comes to post-workout recovery.
- There are different types of whey protein: whey concentrate and whey isolate are the two most commonly found in protein supplements.
- Whey concentrate is typically of lower quality and usually costs less.
- Whey isolate is typically higher quality protein and costs more.
2. Supplement companies often combine concentrate and isolate into a blend to keep the quality somewhat in the middle while keeping the cost reasonable.
- You will need to check the ingredients on the label to see what type of protein is being used. Remember, ingredients listed first are of higher concentration than ingredients listed later.
3. Here are three of the best options we like for baseball players with links to each on Amazon so you can see what the labels look like. Each link is to the Chocolate flavor and 5 pound bag or container so you can compare:
- Gold Standard 100% Whey — This is a blend of concentrate and isolate and is one of the most popular brands on the market. Lots of athletes use this brand and like it. This is the best cost to quality ratio.
- Dymatize Nutrition ISO 100 Whey Protein — This is a pure whey isolate and very high quality. That is why it costs a bit more. If you can afford it, I would go this route as the protein quality is better than a blended version.
- EAS 100% Whey Protein — This is another blend of concentrate and isolate, although it is a little lower in quality than the Gold Standard listed above. Some athletes choose this brand because it costs less and some say it is better tasting than the Gold Standard.
Big League Nutrition
If you are looking for a baseball nutrition plan that can be individualized for you, then you need to check out Big League Nutrition. Not only will this resource go more in depth regarding protein, carbohydrates, and fats, it will also help you learn how much of each nutrient you need based on your body type. Furthermore, you will learn how to time your eating around baseball games, tournaments, and workouts to maximize performance in the gym and on the field.
