Most people who do muscle training consume protein. But how should you take it? We asked world bodybuilding champion Masa Suzuki for some effective methods.

Interview and text: FITNESSLOVE Editorial Department. Photo: Kitaoka Kazuhiro.

When do you drink protein?

Suzuki: I drink it after training, as a snack, and after meals. After meals, I take it as a nutritional supplement when I don't get enough protein from my meals.

--Is the way to drink it the same after training, as a snack, or after a meal?

Suzuki: I drink it differently after training and at other times . After training, I drink GOLD'GYM's Whey Peptide Amino Complex Powder. This peptide is absorbed a little faster than protein, so I choose peptide. I mix it with either grape juice or pineapple juice. I also think it's a good idea to mix CFM® Whey Protein plain flavor with any juice instead of Amino Complex Powder, as the plain flavor goes well with juice.

--Is there any reason to mix it with grape juice or pineapple juice?

Suzuki: Grape juice, even among 100% juices, has a high glucose content and is easily converted into glycogen. This makes it easy for the liver to store it as energy, making it recommended for post-workout consumption. It's also said that when protein is consumed with glucose, it's absorbed much better due to the influence of insulin. Other juices are said to be high in fructose. Unlike glucose, fructose does not easily convert into glycogen.

--What about pineapple juice?

Suzuki: As for pineapple juice, it contains proteolytic enzymes, so I try to drink it together .

--Is it a proteolytic enzyme?

Suzuki: Yes. Some people mistakenly think that it will break down the protein, but that's not the case; it actually breaks down the protein into smaller pieces. In other words, it's the same as adding pineapple juice to meat to make it softer, which means it's better absorbed.

--So there's a reason for each. Do you have any particular preferences for snacks or after-meals drinks?

Suzuki: On the other hand, if you eat carbohydrates that are quickly absorbed between meals or after a meal, you are more likely to experience blood sugar shock, also known as insulin shock. When blood sugar levels rise suddenly, they fall rapidly as well, causing the release of a hormone called cortisol, which breaks down muscle. Therefore, to avoid raising blood sugar levels too much between meals or after a meal, I try to dilute protein with water instead of juice.

--Why did you choose protein instead of whey peptide/amino complex powder?

Suzuki: Whey peptide amino complex powder is absorbed quickly, so blood amino acid concentrations rise quickly, which in turn causes them to fall quickly. That's why I choose protein instead of the fast-absorbing whey peptide amino complex powder. My favorite protein flavors are Gold's Gym's mixed berry, cafe au lait, and yogurt. Especially in the summer, fruity and refreshing flavors like fruit or yogurt are easy to drink.

--So you change it depending on when you drink it.

Suzuki: The effects change depending on how you drink it, so I try to use it in different ways, taking into consideration the benefits of whey peptide amino complex powder, the benefits of protein, the benefits of mixing it with juice, and the benefits of mixing it with water.

Masashi Suzuki
Born December 4, 1980 in Fukushima Prefecture.
He first participated in a bodybuilding contest in 2004. In 2005, just two years after his debut, he won the Tokyo Championships. In 2009, he placed third in the 80kg class at the World Games Bodybuilding. He has continued to win the Japanese Championships since 2010, achieving his ninth consecutive victory in 2018. In 2016, he also won two world championships: the Arnold Classic Amateur Championships in the 80kg class and the IFBB Amateur World Championships in the 80kg class. The DMM Online Salon "Suzuki Juku" is currently open and is a popular choice.