Papaya Creamsicle Bonus Shake Recipe & Nutritional Info

NUTRITION FACTS: 385 calories, 40 g protein, 54 g carbs, 0 g fat

WHEN: Postworkout

BLEND
1 cup frozen papaya chunks
1 cup orange Kool-Aid (prepared)
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1 scoop vanilla whey protein isolate
Ice

Tip: Consider buying a vacuum flask to keep your shake fresh and cold, so no nutrients are lost. This way you can prepare your shake ahead of time and take it with you to the gym.

Papaya
The nutritional highlight of papaya is the proteolytic enzyme papain, which breaks peptide bonds (protein) to allow for greater protein absorption, retention and muscle growth than protein alone. Papaya is also a rich source of antioxidant nutrients.

Kool-Aid
Sugar is among the best postworkout carb options because it quickly boosts insulin levels and refills glycogen stores, and Kool-Aid powder can easily be added to your shake. After workouts you want to avoid high-fructose corn syrup (found in some fruit juices) because it’s highly processed and digests more slowly than table sugar.

Milk
The calcium in milk plays a key role in weight regulation and fat metabolization. It’s loaded with both fast-digesting (whey) and slow-digesting (casein) proteins for a steady supply of amino acids, and also has been found to be a powerful growth-hormone releaser.

Whey isolate
Whey is the way to go before and after workouts. It’s fast-digesting and brimming with branched-chain amino acids, which are the most important aminos for building and repairing muscle.