Our beauty blogger Catherine McCurry takes a look at the benefits of protein shakes

WHETHER you are kicking off into the world of fitness or you’re an old pro at following an active lifestyle, you all would have heard about protein shakes, vitamins and supplements.

There’s a lot of taboo surrounding women who take protein and supplements as there is a fear it will make you look too bulky and manly.

While I’m not a nutritionist and not advising that this is the way you should work-out, it’s simply my experience of the benefits of taking shakes and the advice that has been passed on to me.

There is a lot more to exercising and keeping fit than just the gym, it’s about being able to look after our bodies post and pre-workout and repair our muscles so we don’t cause any long-lasting damage. It’s also an important part of creating a toned and defined body.

No matter what type of workout you have completed or the length of time spent training, there is a chance to recover your body so that it supports fat loss and creates lean muscle. It’s essential that we fuel our bodies with protein post-workout and one of the best ways to do this is to take a protein shake with you so at the end of your exercise it’s easily available and we nourish our body correctly.

For my post workouts I use Phd Diet Whey Protein in Belgian chocolate flavour. I mix it with either water or milk and take it after every exercise routine, particularly after long runs.

It tastes nice, easily drank and comes in different flavours too including chocolate orange, strawberry, white chocolate and vanilla.

Some can be purchased in local chemists or online and 3kg, equivalent to 60 servings can range in cost between £23 to £45. Be careful with prices as the same bag of protein could be £15 cheaper online or in a cheap chemist.

I would be reluctant to replace any meal with a protein shake as I use these only to repair muscles and maintain a healthy weight along with my healthy meal. Diet Whey is ideal for those who want to follow a weight management plan, those who want to lose body fat and control calorie in-take.

I take a large scoop of protein and often add flax-seed for an added boost of goodness.

For pre-workouts I would have a banana and sometimes an energy bar.

Some energy bars can be quite heavy so it’s recommended to take one up to an hour before you begin exercising to gain the full benefit of the bars.

A great alternative is to make your own energy bars at home. These can be made from a mixture of flax-seed, nutmeg, oats, dates, peanut butter, seeds, cranberries, cinnamon and mixed spice. Try different combinations to find your favourite.

As the saying goes, your body is made in the kitchen.