A college friend of mine recently posted great information on protein powders. I am reposting it here:
Protein Supplements Reviewed – Which Are OK to Take?
October 20, 2010
The one nutrient nearly ALL of my student-athlete patients and baseball students never get enough of is PROTEIN.
How Much Protein Should Your Child Get Each Day?
1) Take their weight in pounds, divide by 2.2 = their weight in kilograms
2) Multiply weight by 1.5 = the minimum amount of protein needed each day
200 pounds / 2.2 = 91 kilograms x 1.5 = 136 grams protein per day
The Healthiest Sources of Protein?
1. Free Range Chicken
2. Grass-Fed Beef
3. Omega-3 Eggs
4. Almonds, Almond Butter, Walnuts, Pistachios
5. Raw Milk
Now, Protein Supplements…
I (Dr. Arnold) have reviewed 7 different protein supplements:
Protein Supplement #1: Muscle Milk Collegiate
(http://www.cytosport.com/products/collegiate)
Recommended? NO = contains both Splenda and another sweetener called Acesulfame-K which possibly causes thyroid problems (http://www.holisticmed.com/acek/)
-To review, my biggest concern with Splenda is the damage it does to the digestive system.
A Duke University study (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18800291) showed that
Splenda may
1. Make your stomach MORE acidic, affecting digestion and cell function
2. Kill the good bacteria in your intestines (called “probiotics”), increasing your risk of
infection.
Protein Supplement #2: Muscle Milk Regular
(http://www.cytosport.com/products/muscle-milk)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda and Acesulfame-Potassium.
Also contains sunflower oil = high omega-6 fats that increase inflammation
Protein Supplement #3: EAS Myoplex
(http://eas.com/product/myoplex-original-ready-to-drink)
Recommended? NO = Contains Splenda
Also contains sunflower oil = increased inflammation
Protein Supplement #4: Met-Rx Ready-to-Drink Shake
(http://www.metrx.com/labels/031685.pdf)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda, Acesulfame-K
Also has safflower oil = high in omega-6 fats, increasing inflammation
Protein Supplement #5: Met-Rx Collegiate Series
(http://www.metrx.com/shop/parent.aspx?parentID=27&catID=16&xs=feac78c505a64bef9e4200ae9983a401)
Recommended? YES (sort of) = No Splenda, No Acesulfame-K
Please notice that the second ingredient is sugar and it does contain soybean oil = inflammation
Protein Supplement #6: GNC AMP XXX
(http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3480829)
Recommended? NO = Contains both Splenda and Acesulfame-K.
It’s unfortunate because it’s the only supplement here to contain Medium-Chain Triglycerides
(the same fat in Coconut Oil), known to help burn fat and is very popular among bodybuilders
(http://www.musculardevelopment.com/articles/fat-loss/28-fat-attack-eat-fat-burn-fat.html))
.
STOP BEING FOOLED BY ADVERTISING
Having a pro athlete endorse a product doesn’t mean the product is good for you.
Remember when doctors endorsed cigarettes?
What about professional athletes?
When Is The Most Important Time To Take Protein Supplements?
If you had to choose one time during the day, drink your shake within 30 minutes after your
workouts as the body is starving for nutrients to recover.
To read more go to Dr. Arnold’s website. He is a great chiropractor and an incredible pitching coach.