1950's

Some stories of protein shakes go back to ancient times, when people first discovered whey. It was Hippocrates who first noticed positive effects on health. Fast forward to the 1700's, whey protein started being widely used for making a medicinal tonic for the treatment of the sickly. In the following period, it was widely enjoyed by the rich all over Europe. 

The 20th century saw the birth of protein shakes as we know them today. In the 1950s, just before the boom of modern bodybuilding, protein shakes emerged as an easy way of gaining muscle mass. Among the first powder mixtures available was Bob Hoffman’s "Hi-Proteen." It mainly contained soy flour and a lot of sweeteners, and along with other similar products, protein shakes came to be a relatively cheap mass builder. Protein once introduced in shake form for the masses started to gain popularity with bodybuilders and strong men alike. By June 1952 in an issue of Strength & Health he was able to feature Hi-Proteen ads with pictures of John Grimek, Steve Stanko, Jules Bacon, and himself on the boxes.

Although Hoffman might not have been the first one to create a protein shake, he should be credited with popularizing it. His ability to reach a vast number of people and his marketing of the product started ca chain reaction that would grow and flourish in the following decades. as popularity in Hoffman's drinks grew over time, so to did interest in the fitness industry. people were starting to see that you didn't have to be a muscle headed freak to drink these because theres another group of people that need to put on as much weight as they can, babies.