Protein, how do you know you're not getting ripped off?

[mrgeeky]

I like the HPLC bar because of the high protein content - 45 grams then I add in some protien shakes.. I really struggle to meet my protein target for the day as it is, so need to rely on these products as I think many do.. So how do we know the protein content in them is what they say it is? 

Is there any controls or checks, on them?

I think we all remember the Ribena vitamin c scandal, so whats to stop this happening with the protein supplement industry?

Anyone know?

[holdenman]

Why do you struggle to meet your protein target? What exactly do you eat?

If your really interested in being healthy you work out a diet then eat it, I dont really understand how people struggle with that concept.

[trainer1]

what do you eat during the day?? how many times are you eating?

personally i eat, scrambled eggs for breakfast, chicken drumsticks for morning tea + carbs, chicken drumsticks for lunch + carbs, dinners always a type of meat, and if i need it maby a small protein shake after a workout.
if you want to go leaner than that go skinless chicken breast!

MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT...unless your vego...

[mrgeeky]

Why do you struggle to meet your protein target? What exactly do you eat?

If your really interested in being healthy you work out a diet then eat it, I dont really understand how people struggle with that concept.

I didnt say I struggled with that concept.. And I have worked out a diet and I am sticking too it!

Its the  eating of all the food that I struggle with.. Im just not a big eater. Simple really! So I need to find away not to have to shovel down shit loads of food like you guys do.. Protein powder is an easy out..

As it is, I just cant bring myself to eat anything until lunch time and no, Im just not going to force myself to eat breakfast.. It just makes me sick..  I could go on but you get the idea, but then your way off topic..

My question is are there any quality controls of the protein supplements that we eat?

Anyone know?

[mrgeeky]

what do you eat during the day?? how many times are you eating?

personally i eat, scrambled eggs for breakfast, chicken drumsticks for morning tea + carbs, chicken drumsticks for lunch + carbs, dinners always a type of meat, and if i need it maby a small protein shake after a workout.

if you want to go leaner than that go skinless chicken breast!

MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT MEAT...unless your vego...

hahah, just cant do it.. I just cant eat like that.. As it is, I cant believe how much Im now eating each day following this diet.. Im  just not a big eater, added to that I believe I dont need as much as the average person. I have theories on why but again, kinda getting off topic here..

Also, if I eat too much meat gout hits me! I can take meds for that but Im not living on gout pills for the rest of my life.. Milk seems to be a cure for gout so I like to eat a lot of whey protein.

But again, off topic lol...  Anyone know if there are checks on protien powders or does every one just blindly believe they are not getting ripped off?.  

 

[jimmybro1]

A lot of protein bars use Soy protein to make up the majority of the quota of protein. I don't know about you but I avoid Soy protein so protein bars are usually out of the question. 

As for whey protein supplements a lot of the cheap brands add taurine which is a cheap amino acid to make up for the lack for protein in the supplement. If you look at the ingredients list you will see wheather taurine is added or not. Good sign that the protein is off a low quality and taurine is added part of quality control to ensure the product is in spec.

 

[mrgeeky]

Some people have carbohydrate but prob more signifcantly, fat targets that they cant go over in trying to hit their daily macros AND so eating lots of meat etc etc is not always practical - a lean protein can solve this problem.

Yes, you can get ripped off, primarily if the powders you are taking are American and contain 'proprietary blends' which is often times just a lot of space filler or junk.

Id stick with longer established and reputable brands that state the exact contents on the label rather than all these 'fad brands' which seem to pop up every other day....

so its really just a matter of believing in the more common brands I suppose and hoping they arent doing a Ribena on us.. cheers for that onlinepersonaltrainR

[mrgeeky]

A lot of protein bars use Soy protein to make up the majority of the quota of protein. I don't know about you but I avoid Soy protein so protein bars are usually out of the question. 

As for whey protein supplements a lot of the cheap brands add taurine which is a cheap amino acid to make up for the lack for protein in the supplement. If you look at the ingredients list you will see wheather taurine is added or not. Good sign that the protein is off a low quality and taurine is added part of quality control to ensure the product is in spec.

 

thank you jimmybro, that is a really good point...  Yep, I normally avoid soy like the plauge..  But have started chomping down some of the protein bars / drinks of late and just forgot about the Soy content..  And I did read that the main bar I eat the HLPC does have a lot of soy in it.. For some reason it just didnt click to steer clear of it..

So thats a very good point mate and much appreciated.. Its now crossed off my list..  Need to find some thing else to replace it now..  It was so handy to eat 45grms protein in one little bar.. :-(

 

And thanks for the heads up on the Taurine.. something else to look out for....  cheers mate.

[Kalidane]

A lot of protein bars use Soy protein to make up the majority of the quota of protein. I don't know about you but I avoid Soy protein so protein bars are usually out of the question. 

As for whey protein supplements a lot of the cheap brands add taurine which is a cheap amino acid to make up for the lack for protein in the supplement. If you look at the ingredients list you will see wheather taurine is added or not. Good sign that the protein is off a low quality and taurine is added part of quality control to ensure the product is in spec.

 

 

Does dairy even contain taurine?  At a quick glance it doesn't appear to.

 

I see my Nutratech whey appears to be wholly lacking in taurine which sounds like a good thing (unless they are being technical and not describing it as an amino acid).

[holdenman]

 

Why do you struggle to meet your protein target? What exactly do you eat?

If your really interested in being healthy you work out a diet then eat it, I dont really understand how people struggle with that concept.

 

I didnt say I struggled with that concept.. And I have worked out a diet and I am sticking too it!

Its the  eating of all the food that I struggle with.. Im just not a big eater. Simple really! So I need to find away not to have to shovel down shit loads of food like you guys do.. Protein powder is an easy out..

As it is, I just cant bring myself to eat anything until lunch time and no, Im just not going to force myself to eat breakfast.. It just makes me sick..  I could go on but you get the idea, but then your way off topic..

My question is are there any quality controls of the protein supplements that we eat?

Anyone know?

Why not just drink more shakes then? It's far easier to down a shake than eat food. I'm currently getting over 50% of my protein intake from shakes and notice 0% difference compared to when I got all of it from meat/eggs.

There is no way to know if the nutrition info on anything you buy is correct short of getting it tested yourself. I think you put a degree of trust in the company you buy it from to supply accurate info. So the answer to your question is no.

[mrgeeky]

 

 

Why do you struggle to meet your protein target? What exactly do you eat?

If your really interested in being healthy you work out a diet then eat it, I dont really understand how people struggle with that concept.

 

I didnt say I struggled with that concept.. And I have worked out a diet and I am sticking too it!

Its the  eating of all the food that I struggle with.. Im just not a big eater. Simple really! So I need to find away not to have to shovel down shit loads of food like you guys do.. Protein powder is an easy out..

As it is, I just cant bring myself to eat anything until lunch time and no, Im just not going to force myself to eat breakfast.. It just makes me sick..  I could go on but you get the idea, but then your way off topic..

My question is are there any quality controls of the protein supplements that we eat?

Anyone know?

Why not just drink more shakes then? It's far easier to down a shake than eat food. I'm currently getting over 50% of my protein intake from shakes and notice 0% difference compared to when I got all of it from meat/eggs.

There is no way to know if the nutrition info on anything you buy is correct short of getting it tested yourself. I think you put a degree of trust in the company you buy it from to supply accurate info. So the answer to your question is no.

cheers mate, and that is exactly what I am doing.. Eating and drinking protein in the form of protein added to a glass of trim milk, and of course the protein bars..  Bars Im not big on, but they do make a good change from drinking my protein sometimes.. 

 

[Kalidane]

In terms of cost, so wholly ignoring quality, them bars are a mighty expensive source of protein.

 

Good WPC has more than 3x the protein per dollar, and peanut butter more than 4x.

 

Might be worth investing in tupperware if you want portable food.

[mrgeeky]

peanut butter  per 100 Grams  has nearly 600 calories for only 24 grams of protein...

Aussie Bodies - Caramel Rough Hplc Bar 100 grms has 45 grams of protein for only 345 calories..

No comparison..

As far as the whey, I agree and I do use it a lot... 

[AZIDE]

arent you complaining about not being able to get enough energy from foods? if thats the case you should be eating energy dense foods like peanut butter. try mix WPC in with it and some milk/yogurt (so it mixes)

[mrgeeky]

arent you complaining about not being able to get enough energy from foods? if thats the case you should be eating energy dense foods like peanut butter. try mix WPC in with it and some milk/yogurt (so it mixes)

define energy? stamina? And thats not an issue for me!

Are you talking about calories? Then no Im not complaining about getting enough calories either.

I did say I cant eat the amount you guys eat but then I think I also put on weight far easier than any of you guys so need far less calories..  So no its a bad idea for me to go chomping down calorie dense foods.. I put on weight very very easily..  Saying that I do take a teaspoon of peanut butter every morning. Thats usually my breakfast..

My target  intake is only 1910 calories. Been on that for a week now and have energy to burn, getting in good work outs, weigh in tomorrow will see if Im losing weight on that.. 

First few days weight appeared to be comming off and my tummy circuference dropped a few centimeters but tonight I appear to be back to where i started weight wise and tummy circumference... STuffed if I understand it and I have been strict about my calorie intake..

Hoping like hell my 1 week weigh in tomorrow show I have actually lost some weight or there'll be tears..

[Pseudonym]

My question is are there any quality controls of the protein supplements that we eat?

I don't know about the smaller brands, but I think the bigger brands tend to monitor each other. If they can prove a competitor isn't providing what's on the label, they will!

 

 

[mrgeeky]

My question is are there any quality controls of the protein supplements that we eat?

I don't know about the smaller brands, but I think the bigger brands tend to monitor each other. If they can prove a competitor isn't providing what's on the label, they will!

 

 

Kewl! cheers for that Pseudonym, I havent met my target of 167 grams of protein once yet and I know for some one my size thats still supposedly no where near  enough protein..

So I couldnt help but wonder if those bars and the protein powder are a con then I'd be getting stuff all protien as I rely on them to help get my protein needs.

So its handy to know I can probably rely on their protein content..

cheers for that mate.

[jimmybro1]

A lot of protein bars use Soy protein to make up the majority of the quota of protein. I don't know about you but I avoid Soy protein so protein bars are usually out of the question. 

As for whey protein supplements a lot of the cheap brands add taurine which is a cheap amino acid to make up for the lack for protein in the supplement. If you look at the ingredients list you will see wheather taurine is added or not. Good sign that the protein is off a low quality and taurine is added part of quality control to ensure the product is in spec.

 

 

Does dairy even contain taurine?  At a quick glance it doesn't appear to.

 

I see my Nutratech whey appears to be wholly lacking in taurine which sounds like a good thing (unless they are being technical and not describing it as an amino acid).

Whey proteins profile is typically:

leucine, 105 mg; lysine, 93 mg; tyrosine, 32 mg; cysteine, 21 mg; isoleucine, 63 mg; valine, 58 mg; threonine, 69 mg, tryptophan, 18 mg; histidine, 17 mg

On a mg/g basis. Taurine is an additive to increase the nitrogen reading and hence the protein content of the powder.

If under the ingredients list Taurine is listed then it is added.