i know it's not paleo but i'm thinking i need a little extra protein for a few days. i'm eating enough meat that i don't want more of that.

is whey protein powder healthy? i would only use it for a week or so, once a day.

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Madison
begin: May 18, 2005: paleo: 164/164/125



:butterfly

Whey protein is a good source of protein and carries none of the possible thyroid effects of soy. Read your label, of course, since there are various formulations around, some carb-friendlier than others.

HTH

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thanks! the one I picked out only has 2 carb per scoop.
I know it's a processed food and i'm going to try to avoid those eventually but to kick off, i thought it might get me started on the right foot.

__________________
Madison
begin: May 18, 2005: paleo: 164/164/125



:butterfly

Whey protein really isn't a "processed food" in the same way that, say, protein bars and shakes or breakfast cereals in general are "processed."

I eat whey protein every day as a component of my flaxseed/wheat bran cereal. This provides excellent breakfast protein without the calories (or fat) of eggs and meats. Calories aren't the primary concern early on, but this is my preferred way of providing variety as well as nutritional benefits.

I buy SportPharma vanilla whey protein powder at Costco at a good price. I've also bought "Gourmet Whey" online in a peanut butter flavor that's really tasty. They have a whole list of other yummy-sounding flavors.

IMHO, you can use whey protein regularly as a natural part of your low-carb eating style.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

thank you Barb! I'm trying to stay as whole as possible but feel better about the powder now, thank you!
i found one at GNC, can't remember the name. it's not bad tasting, i bought the chocolate. i don't like to eat heavy at breakfast and don't like to cook that early in the day so this would work out well for me.

__________________
Madison
begin: May 18, 2005: paleo: 164/164/125



:butterfly

Madison,

Whey protein is not a processed food. It's not a "shake" like Slimfast or other fake foods. It is a very healthy way to get extra protein in your diet. You will often see body builders and health enthusiasts using whey protein. I have used it extensively from time to time. There are some brands that add sugar to theirs, but if you stick with the lower-carb stuff (as you have), then you should be fine. I try to buy mine only from health food stores.
And be creative! Add fresh berries and ice and some kefir to make a really awesome "smoothie."
HTH,

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Summer

Yep. Over the weekend, I whipped up some peanut butter whey protein with kefir and a TBS or so of ground flaxseed. Thick and yummy!

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

what is kefir?

and thanks for all the posts about the shakes. I felt good this morning after drinking it and working out.

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Madison
begin: May 18, 2005: paleo: 164/164/125



:butterfly

Kefir is a fermented dairy product--sorta like liquid yogurt--with the same benefit of healthy "bugs" for the digestive system. You can do a search on this site for a lot more info about kefir.

It's possible to make it yourself from a starter. Lately I've just been buying mine at the Whole Foods grocery store.

According to Jonny Bowden in his book about the Low Carb Life, the carbs on the label of kefir are overstated, since the fermentation process turns lactose (dairy sugar) into something else. Don't ask me for the technical explanation. In effect, I don't worry about overdoing carbs when I ingest a cup or so of kefir every day--that's after induction.

Incidentally, that book by Jonny Bowden, "Living the Low Carb Life" is a fantastic explanation of a LOT of things, including a comparison of the 14 most popular "low carb" (and related) eating plans. Get it from the library and have a look. I'm planning on adding it to my permanent collection.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

This post is old but still gets good hits and so I should let people know that protein powder IS a processed food. Many people automatically assume that if something is approved by the FDA that it's good for you. WRONG. Many of the ingredients used to make the stuff are chemicals and are well known to creating bad reactions in people. You should know this before you go thinking that delicious shake you just made is all-natural. If it were it would have came from the ground and not from a lab. I have used Designer Whey for years and the powders are excellent for protein. I personally think that moderation is the key instead of complete avoidance. Having a good rotation to your diet is important to eliminate possible allergic or ADHD reactions.