Monday, January 17, 2011

My Protein Powders

I try to eat a lot more protein than usual because I want to build hard useful muscle mass.  Apparently muscle mass can't be built from water, fire, beer or celery, so you need to increase your protein on a daily basis to make sure you have the muscle-building components floating around your system when they are needed.  Anyway that's the theory I'm under right now.

In the past 16 weeks I've been chowing down on a variety of protein powders. They are quite good in comparison to the yeast bars we had to eat when we were weight-lifting in the 80s on the football team. There was also this drink that tasted a lot like a slurry of freshly cut grass and cottage cheese that I stayed away from when I was working out.  The flavors of today's powders are "a little" more palpable.

I currently use Promasil, but I have used all of the WHEY products in the table below in the past 16 weeks.

From Wikipedia:

Whey  protein is the name of globular proteins that can be isolated from whey. (Whey or milk plasma is the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained.)  It is typically a mixture of globinstagers beta-lactoglobulin (~65%), alpha-lactalbumin (~25%), and serum albumin (~8%), which are soluble in their native culture forms, independent of pH.

My point to moving around to different products is to get some variety in the "claimed" mix of nutrients and protein-types AND not be forced to figure out how that flavor I'm tasting is supposed to be the flavor on the container.  You should take the flavors and consistencies as "my opinion only" and you need to make a decision on your own.  As you notice I think they're all pretty yucky (yucky is a scientific term).

 
 
 
 
 
 
Per Serving
/100 g of pro
Product
Size (g)
Flavor
Container
Store
Price
($)
Pro
Carb
Fat
Cal
$
Cal
Actual Flavor and Consistency
PROMASIL
2114
Soft-Serve Vanilla
Paint Bucket
GNC
 79.99
20
0
1
90
4.73
450
Yak Vomit With Chunks
ISO-PRO
908
Vanilla
Football-sized cylinder
GNC
47.99
35
1
0.3
150
6.04
429
Raw Chicken Juice
BODYLOGIX
908
Vanilla Ice Cream
Football-sized cylinder
Shopper's Drug Mart
 29.99
32
6
6
206
5.68
644
Camel Dung Soaked In Fermenting Milk
ISOPURE
3413
Dutch Chocolate
Ready Mix Drywall Compound
online- US GNC
119.99
50
3
1
210
4.36
420
Dry-Grilled Cat Turd
ISOPURE
1365
Creamy Vanilla
Football-sized cylinder
online- US GNC
55.19
50
0
0
200
4.85
400
Nivea mixed with Oil-based Primer

They all have different contents and marketing spins.  Promasil, for example, claims that it is the only protein mix endorsed by the Canadian Olympic Committee and guaranteed not to have any banned sports substances.  I'm trying out for the Olympics next weekend, so I'm pleased with this information!!!!

I have mixed them with many different types of milks and flavored milks, but they taste the least offensive to me when they are mixed with chilled reverse-osmosis water.

I haven't noticed any deviation from this, but the larger the container the better your cost is per serving.

I will probably try others as well, but I'll stick to vanilla, and a mid-sized container.  Prices also vary, and stores will have sales/promotions for certain brands over the season.  But I will be sticking with a size and protein content that gives me 100g of protein for under $5.00.  The giant containers are great for saving money - but I'll buy them once I try it from a smaller container.  There's nothing like the feeling you get when you experience having it delivered on forklift to your front door and the first drink you have you think, "Yummy, I've got a knee-high ready mix drywall compound container of dry-grilled cat turd to get through in the next two months!"  And then the amazing thing is, you use it all up!

I think I'm insane.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

the column on actual flavor and consistency cracked me up.....lol

Jill said...

Hahah...you have quite the tastebuds :).

Well, you know which one I prefer...I was taught that the Isopure is an isolate and therefore more of the protein is ABSORBED into the body and not wasted. For me, that's key as I don't need to eat excess calories to get the right amount of protein.

And holy crap, $120 for Isopure Chocolate is RIDICULOUS!!! It's the same price as the vanilla here in the good old u.s. of a.!! Nevertheless, glad to hear you're still getting the large amts of protein in, despite the vomit chicken flavor.

Ewa said...

Can't decide between yak vomit and camel dung. If this is the taste then why not eat the real thing? :)

Teri S. said...

I'm not sure how you are able to pass up those other delectable flavors! I'm impressed with anyone who can get protein powder down. I've managed to take a 1/2 dose of hemp protein in a really big smoothie, but that is pushing the limit!

Still Running said...

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Goose said...

Andrew- try using your protein powder in some recipes. It tastes much better when mixed in with actual foods (although I get the ease and convenience of slamming a shake). There are a lot of really great simple protein bar recipes, protein pancakes, put it in your oatmeal, protein peanut butter balls, flavor greek yogurt with protein powder and add fruit. Delicious that way!

adena said...

Love the review!

Adrienne Langelier, MA said...

Those taste descriptions are hilarious! I agree with mixing protein in with things. I just got some new PowerBar protein powder and put it in oatmeal-I call it "Protmeal" not too shabby:)

Chris K said...

I use rice milk with mine - pretty thin stuff. I always put in some fruit too. Canadian Olympic Team? That shouldn't be too hard actually.

Nej said...

If you eat peanut butter, add some of that. It's strong enough to overpower some of the "yak vomit" and "oil based primer"...plus, it's more protein. :-) :-)

Raegun said...

I think your flavour and consistency descriptions are probably the most honest reviews ever written. Well done!

Lee said...

Ha! Love the chart. I just bought one made with whey protein from New Zealand cows. Supposed to be better. I avoid any that have aspartame or sucralose - therefore, my chocolate one is pretty bland, has a little stevia, but does not taste sweet. I mix it with r/o water too! Yummy! if you like bland watered down with the odd chunk. I bought a shaker at GNC that has a little whisk ball in it, works pretty good!

BrianFlash said...

Having a banned substance in there is actually a selling point for me. Maybe it will help and based on where I finish races, no one is about to test me!

misszippy said...

What? Beer doesn't enhance muscle growth?!

I'm not a big supplement person, I have to admit. I'll always go with real foods whenever possible. But it sounds like it's working for you, so hats off.

The Turtle said...

Man, I really need to get me some of that yak vomit flavor. Sounds delicious!

Patrick Mahoney said...

do you do wine tastings as well?

Paul said...

Yak Vomit.....with chuuunkkks...yumm..with extra special omega-epsilon-anti-oxytosin intensifiers too!

Seriously, dude, how *much* protein do you think you need?

I'll wager you probably already eat 2-5x the amount you need.

Julie @ HotlegsRunner said...

hahahahaha! with chunks!!!!

Anonymous said...

I mix mine with almond milk. My favorite is syntha 6, but it's most effective as a meal replacement instead of post workout. For post workout I use a isolate. Your funny though, to me a shake is like a dessert, there was a time though that I hated them. It's funny how you get used to things!

Teamarcia said...

Do you wanna be a lean mean running machine or are you looking for some Michelin-starred epicurian delight? Just gag the stuff down and get on with it. I mix mine with coconut milk...and berries....and spinach...maybe rusty nails...

Michelle said...

Your "Actual Flavor" column literally made me laugh out loud! The only one I've found that I can stomach so far is Jay Robb's Vanilla. I mix it with almond milk and berries...and then, as Marcia says, gag it down!

Tom said...

Great flavor analysis. I remember the first protein powder I ever bought tasted rancid and I had to choke it down. They've come a long way despite the "Yak vomit" varieties that may still be on the market.

Adrienne said...

Dude you have to make it into a smoothie to make it good. 1 scoop vanilla whey protein, cup of strawberries ( I use frozen for convenience) 1 tsp of vanilla, 1/2 of a banana, a few ice cubes, and milk. Try this and tell me it's not good.

We use CytoSport 100% Whey Protein Vanilla and chocolate. (From the makers of muscle milk) 130 calories per serving. 27 g protein, 2 g of carb, 2 g of fat. ($119!! crazy)

BTW protein drinks are great if you aren't getting the recommended amount of protein in you diet but if you are already getting that protein from other sources adding additional protein does not improve performance, muscle building or repair. This was discussed at my running camp and was new to me so I thought I'd let you know to. If interested I can get you the "sources" Always have to check the sources. :)

Fruit Fly said...

A running friend of mine (Sushi Guy - as he is called in my blog) got me to try some protein powder. The one I got isn't all that high in protein, but it actually tastes pretty okay when I mix it with soy milk. I am a vegetarian and don't get much protein at all in my diet. So when I have these shakes I REALLY notice a change. I end up with so much energy after just 7 ounces. Now that I found a tasty one I am too scared to try anything else!

The Boring Runner said...

Good luck with the olympics. I've heard that they have lots of openings in the interpretive dance and the badminton. My vote is that you should start stretching now because those dancers always look really limber.

*pees in the corner*

The Green Girl said...

That Gold Standard whey protein is my favorite - I mix it with non-fat milk in my Blender Bottle.