Are Protien Shakes Worth It?

September 13, 2005 1:02 PM

[Protein Filter] Is there any point to drinking protein shakes (or eating protein bars) instead of just drinking a glass or two of skim milk?

It seems like the calorie and protien contents are quite similar, but maybe there's a difference in what you're getting?

posted by blue_beetle to health & fitness (9 comments total)

Well, if you're lactose intolerant...
posted by delmoi at 1:15 PM on September 13, 2005

Well, according to the USDA, you're looking at about 10 grams of protein per cup. Protein shakes usually have around 30+ grams.

It's also, usually, the whey protein, which is extracted during the cheese making process. The TYPE of protein greatly affects how well your body uses it. The catch phrase is bioavailability. Whey and egg whites being the highest.
posted by eurasian at 1:20 PM on September 13, 2005

Note about your tags - that's BICEP dude, no "t".

Some protein shakes have various added substances which the manufacturers claim have helpful properties. I am personally very sceptical. In my country I can buy calcium fortified low-fat milk which has 6.2g protein, 0.2g fat, and 4.8g carbs per 100 ml. I cannot see the point of protein shakes when I can buy a 1l carton of that for less than $2.

I have seen it argued (eg re these products) that there are benefits derived from mixes of different digestibility. Again, I'm skeptical.

I think the big benefit of protein shakes is that they can achieve a nutritional profile (virtually no carbs or saturated fat, interesting additives) that's impossible with milk. You'd have to be pretty keen for that to matter though.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:30 PM on September 13, 2005

I think eurasian is spot-on. Milk is great if you can handle it, but if you're really trying to load up on protein after a workout, whey protein is a great idea. Drink it with lowfat milk and a little chocolate syrup or a banana and you've got a rad post-workout meal. (Although I will admit to occasionally drinking a quart or more of chocolate milk after a particularly hard workout, I don't recommend it -- even if you can tolerate lactose, you probably can't tolerate *that* much.)
posted by uncleozzy at 1:36 PM on September 13, 2005

I should also note that I used to use whey protein, but I don't anymore, just because I'm too lazy to wade through the 5 zillion types of them. No discernable difference to me in my gains. I might be just ingesting enough protein through my diet though.
posted by eurasian at 1:42 PM on September 13, 2005

The whey protein is good as a supplement to building muscle, but you have to watch what you are getting, and the content of it.

Beverly, which is supposed to be one of the best brands, I have found has a lot of extra crap in it just to get to the protein levels.

GNC has a decent protein content, but it tastes like ass, and again, has some extra stuff in it.

It also depends on whether you want to supplement certain things with your protein. Glutamine, Creatine, etc. are good examples of things they might mix in with the protein. I don't like creatine, but I'm not adverse to a company spiking a little Glutamine into my protein.

Beware of protein bars. Damn things of full of fat, sugar, and excess carbs. You'll put on weight eating them, but you won't like what kind of weight.
posted by benjh at 4:11 PM on September 13, 2005

not sure if this is a consideration for you blue_beetle, but portability is a major consideration for me. i exercise quite a bit and taking multiple protein shakes a day is much more plausible/convenient than finding/keeping milk cold. if you're into the carb-hating, milk does have carbs in it whereas most protein powders i know of do not.
posted by whatitis at 4:29 PM on September 13, 2005

I didn't notice any changes when I too protein regularly. If you have a "Trader Joes" around they sell whey protein that tastes good, is inexpensive, and most important dissolves very well.
posted by Dr_Octavius at 2:00 PM on September 14, 2005

less gross? some people just really don't like cow juice.
posted by mdn at 2:53 PM on September 14, 2005