I think most supplements are a way for companies to make money off of people. Many ads for them even say (in small print) "results obtained by adding diet and exercise to the supplement" (or something to that effect). I'd just go with the diet and exercise!
I don't think Oxygen magazine is the best source for HEALTH information, as these supplements may help one's appearance, but at what cost to the health?
Protein shakes come in various forms. The ready-to-drink liquid ones often have a lot of sugars and other undesirable ingredients in. Powdered ones can be better, but look at the ingredients.
I use a vegan protein powder/meal replacement called "Vegan Complete" based on pea and rice protein (I don't think using soy protein concentrates or isolates is a good idea), with many added vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and antioxidants, mixed into my morning smoothie, just to make sure I get a good start (I've never been much of a breakfast eater, so this works well for me). I like that it is only sweetened with fructose (a low-glycemic sweetener) and stevia (the same), and these are the rock-bottom last ingredients on the list. You can take a look at it at
www.veganessentials.com .
That being said, protein powders are NOT necessary if you eat a balanced and varied diet (in fact, unless you're eating a junk-food diet, or a diet based on citrus fruits, it's hard not to get enough protein). And the human need for protein has been greatly exaggerated (usually by those pushing a high-protein diet). About 1 gm. of protein for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight should be sufficient, even for those wanting to build muscle. The standard recommendation is .8 gm. of protein for every km of body weight.
What builds muscle is resistance training, recovery and good nutrition (based on whole foods and avoiding processed foods).
