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I've been putting a scoop of whey protein into my smoothies? my whey protien has 98 kcals per 24kg scoop, protein 17.5, carbs 2.8g, fat 2.1g

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if you want to know if your particular protein powder is good, perhaps list its ingredients... – Kelly May 22 2012 at 13:44
It may be okay as a seasonal thing. During the summer months, for instance. It is very pro-growth, and we probably need a break from it. Read the label and try to get just whey protein, preferably from happy cows. – August May 22 2012 at 15:11
I don't add the normal recommended amount -- I've been adding about a tablespoon's worth to my smoothies (which I only started making: they're good and a great way to get more spinach into my diet!). The kind I buy is grass fed, which I found at Whole Foods. – Veriria May 22 2012 at 15:13
Grass fed dairy is nutritionally superior to conventional milk via fat profile.Whey has this removed from it making it overpriced. – Jeff May 22 2012 at 21:06
I use unflavored pure whey protein from Now Foods, and I love it. They have organic and non-organic, although I'm not sure if it's grassfed. But compared to all of the sugary or artificial-sugar ridden whey powders out there, I don't mind the trade-in. – Esther May 22 2012 at 23:27

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Great question! I have wondered this all the time when I was using the stuff (20g pre and post workout, religiously). Here's what I think about the stuff.

Pros: 1. as far as protein digestibility goes, it pretty much cannot be beat. 2. really good if you are a "hardgainer" as it elevates insulin, which is good post workout if you're consuming it with carbs and want to put that insulin to good use shuttling amino acids and glycogen to starving muscles. 3. convenient source of protein 4. tastes good and does a nice job of satisfying a sweet craving without breaking the calorie bank. 5. easy way to bump up total daily protein intake without adding a lot of extra fat. 6. apparently an excellent source of glutathione and/or increases endogenous glutathione levels.

Cons: 1. highly processed 2. may place excessive strain on pancreatic beta cells, so may not be good for long term use. 3. hard to source which cows/farms the whey is coming from. 4. contains hormones like IGF-1 and may interfere with endogenous hormone regulation.

There are definitely more to each side, I'm sure, but these are the ones I've considered. I have since stopped using whey except for the rare occasion. Since stopping, I have not gotten weaker or lost size or anything that I thought might happen.

Ultimately you have to way them out your self self, but I hope this helps point you in the right direction.

Oh, and one more thing. I while back a I did a quick search on some forums and it seemed that a lot the people who had acute pancreatitis also consumed protein shakes heavily and often had one within hours of the attack.

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Nice pros and cons. If you find it difficult plot source as you mention you could try amazon. I get my ON double chocolate from amazon in large...5 pound tubs. – ben61820 May 22 2012 at 23:41
Thanks for the recommendation Ben- ON makes a tasty protein for sure. However, what I meant by that statement is I have no idea of where ON (or any other company) sources their dairy/whey/cows from to make their products- 1 jub of protein powder could have whey from like a hundred different cows and 50 different farms for all I know. – foreveryoung May 23 2012 at 0:25
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I got ya. Yeah, I'd agree: I bet that tub has thousands of cows' whey. I just don't really care. I mean, I'd say it makes up something like 1-3% of my weekly calories so I don't sweat the details. But yeah, I dont think it's anything it's not yknow – ben61820 May 23 2012 at 0:37
you may have to whey them out – hhsuey May 29 at 6:00
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I use to love using it, helps me get more protein but it is processed and hard to get a really clean protein powder (I found one I liked/taste and without soy or additives).

bottom line is its also a gut irritant as I found out. I'm doing better these days without it but I do miss the convenience of it!

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Irene, I just noted you were the one with digestive issues, I'd say it might cause more harm than good for you. Try pure non processed foods until you get your digestion in check. feel better! – Kelly May 22 2012 at 13:52
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I use two scoops (~ 48 grams of protein) in my morning smoothie (Optimum Nutrition brand). I feel great and still dropping gobs of weight to boot (which is cool with me, I need to lose more, lol).

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sunwarrior protein, get the non-grain based vegetable protein...it has a complete amino profile, is live and raw, and digests quickly and easily.

Whey is a processed dairy product and isn't easily digested, causes bloating, and body acidity.

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Causes bloating? What does that even mean? I'm sorry but that is just a nonsense claim – ben61820 May 22 2012 at 23:38
Ru sure about the acidity? That's an interesting angle and I agree with it. Maybe that's the reason why prediabetics shouldn't take whey protein: the increased acidity could cause the pancreas to destroy the functionality of pancreatic beta cells. – Namby Pamby May 23 2012 at 3:06
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I wonder if its too insulinogenic for me, and am dropping it for a while to see how I feel.

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Interesting. What makes you think it's insulinogenic? Proteins, yes. Some carbs that can be limited depending on what you choose. Proteins in absence of carbs, definitely. – Namby Pamby May 23 2012 at 3:04
Dairy spikes insulin. – James May 23 2012 at 8:39
Yes, but not all dairy, right? Butter has traces of casein but ghee doesn't or has very little. The biggest culprit is lactose, which you can avoid by not drinking whole or skim milk. As for casein, it seems that while your BG may not spike there may be an insulin response when casein is present. Hence, diabetics/prediabetics should be careful with sour cream, whey protein, etc. that supposedly do not have high GL. – Namby Pamby May 23 2012 at 13:41
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Try eWhey. It's a whole foods-based meal replacement with grass-fed whey protein, healthy fats, and low-glycemic carbs, enhanced with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and colostrum. It's delicious too! www.evolvedns.com

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It's the healthiest thing you could possibly eat

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sunwarrior protein, get the non-grain based vegetable protein...it has a complete amino profile, is live and raw, and digests quickly and easily.

Whey is a processed dairy product and isn't easily digested, causes bloating, and body acidity.

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there is whey and there is whey, same with vegetable protein. you can't compare high quality like sun warrior to some low quality whey, there are several high quality whey products that are not "dead". Also, isolated vegetable protein is as much processed as whey, so that is a strange argument. If one is allergic to whey or the small amounts of casein (if it's a concentrate) than it is, of course, a different story but you can also react to vegtabele protein. Also, most studies seem to show that whey is superior to other protein types. Personally, I don't care and take none ;) – ChenZhen May 23 2012 at 7:13
There is processed food and then there is non-processed food. Paleo is supposed to be about the latter. – Warren D May 23 2012 at 17:14

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