When is the best time to take protein?

Total daily protein matters most; timing is fine-tuning. The old "anabolic window" — that you must slam a shake within minutes of training — is oversold, and the practical evidence favors simply reaching your daily total, with an even spread across meals a reasonable secondary habit. For a low appetite, the useful timing question is different: put protein where you will actually consume it, which for many people is a shake at the time of day appetite is weakest. We present this as general information to help you hit a target, not as a rule with promised results.