There’s a buzz around protein at the moment. But unlike most companies, Upbeat isn’t about increasing your protein intake, it’s more about making sure you get a steady protein hit throughout the day through their delicious milk protein drinks.
Protein is all the rage at the moment. So much so that a personal trainer recently recommended that I add a raw egg to my morning smoothie. No thanks. Protein is vital for your body to build new cells, repair tissue and give you energy so it’s pretty essential to take in enough each day but I’d rather not eat raw goop.
Apparently for me, as a woman weighing approximately 57kg, I need at least 45g of protein each day. That’s the equivalent of around 7 and a half eggs minimum. As well as eggs, you can also get your protein from foods such as meat, fish, dairy, eggs, soya beans and quinoa. And now, with Upbeat’s fresh dairy protein drinks, there’s an extra item you can add to your list of protein sources.
The idea behind Upbeat is that if you’re running out the door first thing in the morning on empty, or you’ve only managed to grab half a lunch before your meeting starts or you’ve finished a workout and it’s a long time before you can eat, Upbeat saves the day. For a start, snacking on one of these is mightily better than cracking open a chocolate bar and the added bonus is that it’s relatively low on calories and high in protein.
Interestingly enough, Upbeat aren’t about getting more protein into people’s diets – it’s about getting protein regularly throughout the day. After all, according to Upbeat people can’t store protein like they do fat and can only use up to 30g at one time.
With 20g of protein and less than 150 calories, it definitely sounds appealing. And if you’ve not already tried it, do – because it tastes good too. I don’t know what it is but I have a fear of protein supplements. I think I’ve reluctantly believed people’s lies that ‘it tastes really good – just like a milkshake!’ only to gag on my mistake moments later. Upbeat’s protein drinks are actually just like milkshakes. There are two flavours: Strawberry and Mango & Passionfruit. It goes without saying that I’m a fan of Mango & Passionfruit. I’ve never been keen on Strawberry flavoured products but according to the rest of my house, the Strawberry is tasty. So tasty in fact, that I had to hide my last Strawberry bottle behind a wall of condiments in the fridge away from my housemates’ slavering jaws.
What I like about these products is that I can understand the majority of the ingredients list. There’s the whey protein (the by-product of milk), fruit juice, fruit puree, natural colours and flavourings and that’s about it. It does contain sucralose, which is an artificial sweetener yet one that contains virtually no calories. Admittedly only a small amount is included in the ingredients and a little birdie from Upbeat has said that in the future a natural sweetener will be looking into.
Upbeat also contains fresh milk. This means that although you need to keep an eye on the best before date, you know that what you’re getting is fresh as a daisy. Keep one in your fridge at home and at work for emergencies. And like all things, don’t go crazy – these aren’t meal replacements.
More on Upbeat
Why buy? They score highly on the taste factor and are great for busy people looking for healthier snack options or who are following a protein-based diet. Don’t buy or even try if you’re vegan or lactose intolerant.
Where to get your Upbeat fix? Upbeat’s available at a variety of supermarkets, Holland & Barrett, Ocado, Little Waitrose, Tesco Extras and WHSmith Travel stores. For your nearest stockist, check out their website.
How much? One 250ml bottle costs from £1.75
Want more info? Check out the Upbeat website
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Great info. Lucky me I recently found your website by accident
(stumbleupon). I’ve bookmarked it for later!