There’s some merit in protein shakes, of course. They can replenish spent nutrients much quicker than food, and help repair your knackered muscles following a workout. These days however, a cup of pure whey can feel more an Instaprop than a legit supplement, and according to one expert, they may not even be that necessary.

Talking to Business Insider, personal trainer Max Lowery, who seems to have more abs than we can count on our fingers, revealed that he’s never touched a protein shake in his life – and says 90 per cent of gym goers shouldn’t bother, either.

A post shared by Max Lowery (@max.lowery) on Aug 28, 2017 at 12:06pm PDT

“The only people who might benefit from them are vegans who aren’t being so careful with their diets,” says Lowery. “The average untrained person needs as little as 60-75g of protein, and the average trained person who exercises three times a week needs 1.2g-2g per kilo of body weight. You can easily get enough protein from eating real food.”

Plus, a regular protein swill can prove detrimental to a lean physique. “Too much protein can actually be broken down into sugars that create an insulin response which can facilitate fat storage. This is called gluconeogenesis,” he says.

Something that isn’t helped by shakes with artificial sweeteners and poor protein sources, says Lowery, with multiple commercial powders stripped of vital nutrients and packed with chemical detergents and synthetic additives.

All of which sounds very scientific. But if seeing is believing, Lowery’s Instagram is proof enough that he’s doing something right.

A post shared by Max Lowery (@max.lowery) on Aug 1, 2017 at 12:02pm PDT