OCTOBER 13, 2011 PROTEIN POWDER DILEMNA

"The people who are most successful at living and loving are those who can learn to wait successfully."



I have learned this the hard way, but it has been well worth it. I never want anything on my time. It will happen on its own time, or G.O.D.'s time. Now I can wait patiently, quietly and happily. A lot has changed. I also met a life-partner who knew how to do 'wait successfully'. Together life flows not on our time- it does flow sometimes too quickly and sometimes too slowly, but it is always flowing.

In 2010 $3.2 billion dollars were spent on Sports Nutrition and Weight Loss supplements. Included in this were various types of protein powders. You do have a choice of whey, wheat, soy, hemp and brown rice protein powders. Why should you consume a protein powder? Actually if you eat a well balanced breakfast you DO NOT need to have a protein powder breakfast. Those who need these fast sources of protein for a meal are the busy college student, working mom, or the stressed-out professional business person. Our bodies need protein. If you start the day with protein you will make better food choices throughout the day. The protein powders also build lean muscle and enhance healthy muscle recovery. This is why body builders and gym rats use them. I caution those individuals because they often consume WHEY protein consistently.

I have nothing against whey protein, but it comes from milk. I see many patients who have a milk allergy by IgG RAST (food allergy) testing. It is the most common food sensitivity next to wheat. If you have a dairy allergy or are lactose intolerant whey protein will not be easily digested. Many patients I see are lactose intolerant but think whey protein powder is fine for them. WRONG! Most of it also comes from conventional dairy so that means you are getting the antibiotics and hormones fed to most cows. I do not recommend whey protein. It is also highly processed.

The next most common protein powder is soy protein powder. I have nothing against soy if your IgG RAST food allergy tests do not show an allergy to it. It used to be used a lot more but in the last 7 years has taken a big nose dive. It is vegan friendly but remember this: It has isoflavones which can increase estrogen levels and goitrogens which can affect the thyroid. It does come form soybeans of which 99% are genetically modified. Soy also contains phytic acid which can block essential trace mineral absorption.

So that leaves brown rice protein powder. This by far is my recommendation. I have nothing against whey, soy or even hemp, but I use more brown rice protein more than any other protein powder. For one it is minimally processed, not treated with chemicals, and rich in many vitamins especially the B vitamins. It is rich in two trace elements, selenium and manganese. These two are essential for the immune system and thyroid function (especially the selenium). It is great for fiber unlike the other two protein powders. It has lots of lysine (helpful for those with any herpes or other viruses). It also has glutamine (although I often ask my patients to add more glutamine and probiotics). It has arginine, an amino acid which is excellent for the cardiovascular problems. So is there a drawback to Brown rice protein powders? Yes, the one drawback is the cost. This is how I feel: do not let cost get in the way of your health. Use it every other day if you are on a budget.

Until tomorrow...