Health shakes like protein shakes are becoming more and more popular with more and more people as the years pass. It’s not hard to see why, especially when you consider the numerous health benefits that such shakes can offer to those that drink them.
Protein shakes alone can be highly beneficial for those that are planning to increase their muscle mass, or even for those that are planning to lose weight, thanks to the fact that such shakes are able to aid in muscle growth, and are great for boosting metabolism.
However, when it comes to preparing protein shakes, many people find themselves wondering whether it is best to use water or milk to create the drink. Is one better than the other? Can health shakes only be consumed with one or the other?
If you’re wondering whether your health shake would benefit more from water or milk, then you will want to keep on reading down below, because today we are going to find out once and for all whether your health shakes are better off made with milk or water!
Are Health Shakes Better With Water Or Milk?
Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question, because your decision between the two will depend on a number of factors!
Neither option is definitively better than the other, and each one has different benefits and drawbacks.
Let’s take a look at the factors that might affect your choice between the two liquids!
Absorption
Absorption in this context refers to the rate at which a substance is able to pass through the walls of the intestines, and into the bloodstream.
Water and milk are both able to help the nutrients from your health shake to absorb into the bloodstream, but they do it at very different rates.
When health shakes like protein shakes are made with water, then the nutrients are able to enter the bloodstream at a far faster rate than if the shake were to be made with milk.
This can make protein shakes in particular a great one to make with water, especially if you need a quick burst of energy.
If you are enjoying a protein shake during the day, then you may benefit from using milk to have the energy absorbed into the blood more slowly and steadily.
If you are using protein powders as part of a gym regimen, then you will want to make use of water, rather than milk, when making your protein shake, because the protein will be able to get to your muscles more quickly, helping your muscles to grow when they most need the assistance.
Flavor
This is a factor that largely comes down to personal taste. Some people generally prefer to mix their health shakes with milk, because the creaminess of milk helps to make it more enjoyable, and more like a traditional ‘shake’.
This can also help with making a shake more palatable if the powder itself has an unappetizing natural flavor.
Milk can more naturally be mixed with other flavorings such as cocoa powder to make a healthy shake taste better.
However, some people instead prefer the taste of a health shake that is made with water, so if you prefer the way your health shake tastes when made with water, then, by all means, use it!
Digestion
This largely goes hand in hand with absorption. While a health shake may be absorbed into the bloodstream via the stomach walls, there will still be some nutrients left behind that will then be digested and broken down in the body.
When it comes to digestion, water tends to allow for a health shake like a protein shake to be absorbed much more quickly, which of course is beneficial to anyone that is looking to grow their muscles, or for anyone that simply needs a quick boost of energy.
When a health shake is made with milk, on the other hand, it may take a lot longer for the nutrients to be digested, which can be very beneficial for anyone that needs their energy to be released slowly over time, to keep them energized over a long day of work, for example.
However, this is very unbeneficial for anyone that needs the benefits of the shake to be released right away, such as a protein shake after a workout.
You should also keep in mind that some people are lactose intolerant, and this will, of course, will mean that such people should avoid making protein shakes with milk so that they can be sure they will be able to digest the drink and get all of the nutrients they need!
Energy
Largely, health shakes are able to give you a large amount of extra energy, whether they are made with water or with milk. However, the key difference between the two is how that energy is released.
If you make a shake using water, then you will find that your body absorbs the nutrients at a much quicker rate than if you were to make the shake with milk.
If you make a health shake using milk, then the nutrients will be released at a much slower rate, throughout the day, which is very beneficial if you need consistent energy throughout the course of the day.
Texture
Naturally, creating a healthy shake using milk will result in a much more creamy and indulgent texture to the shake. This is thanks to the density of milk, which allows it to be very creamy. This can help to make a healthy shake taste more like a treat.
However, if the texture isn’t of concern to you, then you can easily make use of water to make your health shake. A health shake made using water may be a little thicker and lumpier, but it will not lose any of its nutritional value.
Can You Use Plant Milk To Make A Health Shake?
Absolutely. If you don’t want to use water to make your health shake, but you can’t consume milk for any reason, then a great alternate option could be plant milk.
Plant milk has plenty of the protein and fat that you may need from your protein shakes, and is able to achieve a largely similar texture, adding a creaminess to the shake that makes it more appetizing.
Plant milk is also naturally very sweet, so it can help to add a sweetness to a health shake that you may not get from water.
Perhaps best of all, plant milk is also great because it is lactose-free, which allows even those that are lactose-free to enjoy a more creamy and smooth health shake!
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Creating the perfect health shake can seem difficult, especially if you are picky about certain flavors or textures, but luckily you don’t have to worry about whether milk or water is better for nutritional purposes.
Both liquids are able to effectively deliver the needed nutrients to your body, but they do so at different rates, so make sure to pick the perfect one for your needs!
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