Protein shakes / powder

[ChocolateGanache]

Why?
Honest question.
Is it not better to get your protein from food?

If you’re exercising a lot and losing weight it stops you losing muscle density - or something like that. For weight training etc, also as a woman getting older it helps too. Is it all bollocks ? No idea but the odd protein shake won’t kill you.

Because it makes it easier to take in enough protein to build muscle when you are weight training. It's also easy and quick to do before/after a workout, unlike steaming a chicken fillet.

Also the ability to absorb or use protein reduces with age so older people need proportionately more.
My trainer says 120 for me - some calculators put it at over 160 with my age factored in.

It's also a good option when you're on the go. I often have to travel for work and need to grab lunch from a train station etc The choices are shockingly poor so grabbing a protein shake is two-fold - stops me overeating and gives me some extra protein for the day.

Real food is definitely preferable, but recently I’ve been experiencing some issues with my mental health and the meal replacement shakes at least mean I’m getting some nutrition on a day when I might otherwise not eat well. A balanced home cooked meal would obviously be better but at times where that isn’t possible, they’re not a bad option.

Ok thanks for the replies.
Is there a "better" brand to go for?

You do need to be doing a lot of exercise to need much additional protein. Most people are fine with about 1 to 1.2g of protein per kg of body weight and can get most of it from a varied diet. Any excess gets peed out.

Protein bars and shakes also tend to be high in carbs and sugar and are expensive for what they are.

I used to use a plain whey protein powder mixed with some cocoa powder and shaken up with water.