5 Protein Shakes for Muscle Building, Fat Burning, and Overall Metabolism

Today, I’m sharing 5 Protein Shakes you can make to help build muscle naturally, boost metabolism, and jumpstart your weight loss.

My homemade protein shakes are not just packed with natural proteins, but they’re also packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. This is important because most of the protein shakes you see sold in stores nowadays lack any real nutrients and usually contain added fillers, preservatives, and artificial ingredients.

Your goal should not only be to build muscle and (for some) lose weight, but to get healthier while doing it.

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Watch Recipe Video Below…

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Avoid Store-Bought Protein Shakes

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When it comes to making protein shakes, homemade is always best because you can control the ingredients. As I stated earlier, many of the store-bought protein shakes are full of unnecessary ingredients that should be avoided for optimal wellness.

Additionally, many pre-made protein shakes use either whey protein or a soy-based vegan protein as their source of protein. Here’s why I believe those should be avoided…

• Whey Protein Shakes – A high quality whey protein powder from grass-fed cows is acceptable and can actually be a great way to build muscle if you’re not lactose intolerant; however, most of the whey-based protein shakes sold in stores are derived from factory farmed cows that are pumped with growth hormones and antibiotics, fed a diet of GMO grains, and live a highly stressful life hardly ever seeing the light of day (zero Vitamin D!). With a homemade protein shake, you can control the type of whey protein used, which should always be a high quality grass-fed whey protein powder.
• Vegan Protein Shakes – Many of the vegan protein shakes use a soy-based protein as their protein source. The reason I disagree with this is because over 80% of the soybeans in America are genetically modified and heavily sprayed with toxic pesticides, such as glyphosate, which is a known hormone-disruptor (study). Here’s a few vegan protein powders with clean, organic ingredients: Garden of Life, Ora Organics (with greens & enzymes), KOS Organics (keto friendly).

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My Favorite Protein Powder

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There are so many types of protein powders on the market today. My goal is to consume things as close to natural as possible while yielding the most health benefits.

I’ve concluded the best protein powder for me is: Collagen Peptides

Collagen peptides provide a source of protein derived from the bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of animals, usually bovine (cows).

That may sound disgusting to some, but our ancestors have consumed collagen-rich parts of the animal for centuries. In fact, when they would make a kill, they would consume the organs, glands, bone marrow, etc. before consuming the muscle meat (ground beef) because instinctively they knew that those parts of the animal contained the most concentration of nutrients. Then, after consuming the animal, they’d use the bones to make bone broth (also rich in collagen).

Point is – I believe our modern day diets lack essential nutrients and amino acids that our ancestors got from eating nose-to-tail. Nowadays, we eat the muscle meat (which isn’t as nutrient-dense) and remove the skin (where the the collagen is). And, collagen contains important amino acids, such as glycine, that are essential to our overall health.

Therefore, my choice of clean protein that I add to all of my protein shakes is – Collagen Peptides (always make sure it’s from a clean, pasture-raised source).

My two favorite brands for high quality collagen peptides are…

• Primal Kitchen (use code KAYLA10 for 10% off)
• Vital Proteins

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Protein Shake #1 – Glowing Banana Beet Smoothie

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I call this my “glowing” banana beet protein smoothie because the star ingredient in this drink recipe is beetroot. And, beets are great for purifying the blood, which leads to healthier and more vibrant skin.

Beets are also a great source of folate. They can also improve energy levels thanks to their high levels of naturally occurring nitrates. Beets are an underrated superfood that definitely don’t get enough credit!

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Macros for Glowing Banana Beet Protein Smoothie

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Protein Shake #2 – Everything Green Superfood Smoothie

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My Everything Green Superfood Protein Smoothie is not only packed with protein, but is also packed with loads of nutrients and natural fibers. This protein shake can be used as a meal replacement if you’re trying to lose weight.

It’s also super energizing thanks to the matcha powder, so I would suggest drinking this in the morning or early afternoon.

Tip: To make this smoothie extra creamy, you can pre-freeze the zucchini slices and avocado.

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Macros for Everything Green Superfood Protein Smoothie

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Protein Shake #3 – Orange Creamsicle Smoothie

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Macros for Orange Creamsicle Protein Smoothie

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Protein Shake #4 – Brownie Oatmeal Smoothie

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Macros for Brownie Oatmeal Protein Smoothie

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Protein Shake #5 – Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

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Macros for Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Smoothie

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Looking for more healthy smoothie recipes?

If you’re on the search for more healthy smoothie recipes, here’s a few of my favorites. You can add protein powder to any of these recipes to turn it into a protein shake!

• Ultimate Collagen Drink for Hair, Skin, Nails, and Digestion
• My Top 3 Favorite Weight Loss Smoothies
• 5 Fat-Burning Breakfast Smoothies
• Immune-Boosting Vitamin C Smoothie
• 3 Hormone-Balancing Smoothies