Protein Powder

[RinkyDink]

I found the following article helpful in steering me clear of protein powder. It would be nice if we could trust vitamin supplements, but since they've been deregulated (in the US) it's impossible to have any faith in their safety. Buyers of the products basically have to trust the claims of the manufacturers. Buyer beware.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012 ... /index.htm

[oldmansurfer]

Theoretically if a manufacturer makes a claim that their product does something they must have proof. Realistically it takes years for the FDA to find those claims and make them retract it. But no supplement has been shown to make you healthier unless you have a deficiency of whatever they are supplementing. They have found that some supplements can increase the incidence of cancer but haven't found any that decrease the incidence of cancer. I guess I'm lucky to not be a teenager says the oldmansurfer as he takes his b vitamin supplement

[RinkyDink]

They have found that some supplements can increase the incidence of cancer but haven't found any that decrease the incidence of cancer. I guess I'm lucky to not be a teenager says the oldmansurfer as he takes his b vitamin supplement

Yeah, it's really hard to know what works. I try to get the best information I can, but I'm cautious nowadays because it's really difficult to be sure what is in the bottle, let alone whether it is actually beneficial.

[oldmansurfer]

In general if you aren't diagnosed with a nutrient deficiency then supplements won't be beneficial so that should eliminate the need to know what is in them for most people

[Big H]

Nothing like the real thing baby.....unless prescribed my way of thinking is to source naturally. There really are no shortcuts without consequences.

[dtc]

The article is a bit strange - after spending 90% saying 'you dont need supplementation' it then says

For athletes, a general rule of thumb is about 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day.... According to federal health survey data, Americans get an average of 82 grams of protein per day from their diet.

If you are 180lb and athletic, you are 100g per day short if you eat an average diet!

Sure you can supplement your diet by pigging into more meat or whatever, but you can also do it through....protein powder. I understand there are potential issues with what is in the powder (its more tightly regulated in some other countries) and cost and so forth is a factor, but so is convenience and availability (hard to eat a chicken breast at the gym).

I agree that the average couch sloth doesnt need this stuff; and even more athletic people need to assess their particular requirements (bulking up vs runners vs swimmers etc etc).

[oldmansurfer]

There is a market for people who believe such supplements are beneficial but it hasn't ever been shown to be needed or beneficial. The body building community keeps those protein supplement companies making profits and all they need to do is have some adds showing what is supposed to happen when you take the supplement yet they haven't been shown to be of benefit. The fitness world is so full of superstitions....so is the surfing world....oh well that is not likely to change any time soon.

[Big H]

I'm a chef in a big hotel....spoilt for choice (often eat sashimi for breakfast with miso soup with lots of knob and tofu or grilled salmon fillet.) I understand that I have unique access, but where there is a will there is a way. I had a friend who used to work out then pound canned tuna fish right in the middle of the gym to ensure he got the protein in his system in time to be effective.

[RinkyDink]

I agree that the average couch sloth doesnt need this stuff; and even more athletic people need to assess their particular requirements (bulking up vs runners vs swimmers etc etc).

Yeah, I hear your point. I think it might be an option for some athletes. I personally think some scrambled eggs will do the job better, but to each their own. The point I see CR trying to make is that the marketing of the powders can easily lead to unhealthy doses of the stuff. I think the following quote is pretty informative.

says Kathleen Laquale, a licensed nutritionist and certified athletic trainer. "The body can only break down 5 to 9 grams of protein per hour, and any excess that is not burned for energy is converted to fat or excreted, so it's a ridiculous waste to be recommending so much more than you really need," she says.

Roberta Anding, a clinical dietitian and director of sports nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine, agrees. And, she says, "If you ask the average consumer how much protein they need they have no clue."

Anding says protein drinks might help vegans or some seniors. The American Dietetic Association says proteins could help athletes after strength and endurance training, although it says they haven't been shown to improve athletic performance and should be used conservatively.

[oldmansurfer]

There is more than just consuming protein. It has to do with the amino acid profile. You need the proper ratios of amino acids or the protein is broken down into glucose or stored as fat. In addition the nutrients need to be bioavailable meaning if you eat them you can digest and absorb them. For instance hair and feathers are made of protein but if you rely on them for food you will starve because you can't digest or absorb them. I don't think these companies care much about that. They just have someone who is a star athlete or bodybuilder promoting their product and everyone will buy it because people mistake the product for the athlete. There are a number of reasons that they are great bodybuilders or athletes and none of them are the freaking protein powder.

[Wavebel]

In general if you aren't diagnosed with a nutrient deficiency then supplements won't be beneficial so that should eliminate the need to know what is in them for most people

This is exactly the mantra I follow, supplements should be for things you are lacking which means generally not needed for a balanced diet.

[emaking]

Hi, thanks for sharing.

[Big H]

Hi, thanks for sharing.

Here comes the spam....

[sandyfrank]

Hi, nice thread.