Is protein powder enough?

thatsnumberwang
thatsnumberwang Posts: 398 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Hypothetically, could a person get all the protein they needed from protein powder (as in, 3 shakes a day or so)? I'm *not* actually trying this (so don't worry!). What I *am* trying to figure out is whether I need to stuff myself with protein from "real" food on days when I'm already getting a decent amount from my shakes. There's only so much chicken, eggs and dairy a girl can eat :-/

Replies

  • txsgirlK
    txsgirlK Posts: 171 Member
    I guess you could get all your protein from shakes, but what fun would that be? LOL! I prefer to EAT! I'll do a shake every once in awhile for breakfast if I'm in a rush.
  • 600racer
    600racer Posts: 149 Member
    I supplement my meals with protien smoothies. Protien is protien IMHO.
  • jarrettd
    jarrettd Posts: 872 Member
    I'm not a learned individual by ANY means, but I've read just enough to gather that whey protein is ONE kind of protein. We need a couple of different kinds to have all the amino-acid building blocks necessary for growth and good health. While you can pad your numbers with it, it isn't a "complete" protein by itself.

    If I'm totally wrong, someone will be along in a minute to correct me...
  • Zichu
    Zichu Posts: 542 Member
    I can understand that just eating chicken and eggs might seem boring. I enjoy eating them, but I also have a number of vegetables, fish and even some meat free products which are quite high in protein.

    You could also have other lean meats like lean beef, even trim the fat off of pork if you enjoy pork. They're all high in protein.


    Here is a site of a few high protein veggies as well.

    www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/7-high-protein-vegetables-to-include-in-your-diet.html


    They have listed peas on there, I'm not a massive fan of peas, I don't like the texture, but you can easily mix the peas in with some rice or even mash potato. You can do the same with corn. I love broccoli and spinach. Pretty sure you could get a lot of protein out of a roast chicken dinner. I have 2 roasted dinners a week, one with chicken and usually the other with beef.

    I always try and get more spinach, lean meat and broccoli on my roast dinners.
  • thatsnumberwang
    thatsnumberwang Posts: 398 Member
    Ooh, the high protein veggies site is really helpful. Two things I could stand to eat more of. Thanks all!
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    Hypothetically, yes. However, depending on your protein needs, you might want to find a comfortable toilet.
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    It is far better to source your protein from real foods, rather than supplementing heavily. I rarely have to resort to powder, myself(I ate 195g yesterday with no powder shakes)
  • amyhollar
    amyhollar Posts: 107 Member
    whey protein is a complete protein, also egg and soy protein are complete. There are also vegan protein powders that are complete because they use multiple plant sources to derive all 9 essential amino acids.

    Other then that, I'm not going to weigh in on this because everyone will start yelling at me that I'm wrong- but I think most people on this site WHEY (pun intended hehe) over-consume protein! My recommendation is to not worry so much about it, and eat what you love :)
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    Start using more than 2 scoops a day your digestive system can get "lazy" and you lose the ability to extract protein from the foods you eat. You're setting yourself up for badness. Supplements are supplements...not substitutes.
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    It is far better to source your protein from real foods, rather than supplementing heavily. I rarely have to resort to powder, myself(I ate 195g yesterday with no powder shakes)

    ^^THIS
  • drmattski
    drmattski Posts: 124 Member
    whey protein is a complete protein, also egg and soy protein are complete. There are also vegan protein powders that are complete because they use multiple plant sources to derive all 9 essential amino acids.

    Other then that, I'm not going to weigh in on this because everyone will start yelling at me that I'm wrong- but I think most people on this site WHEY (pun intended hehe) over-consume protein! My recommendation is to not worry so much about it, and eat what you love :)

    I'm with Amy - I think most people get enough protein unless they are vegetarians (my wife was previously before I met her and roasted her the perfect chicken :-)

    The goal is usually getting enough complete protein from sources like lean meat. If you have cut back on those sources, then a supplement may be called for, but probably not for most people eating a balanced diet.
  • Balice57
    Balice57 Posts: 125
    I've always been told that eating real food is better than supplements. I just use a protein shake when I'm rushed for time. I've been surprised to find a couple of non-meat proteins that I really like. Check out Gardein and Quorn brands. They've gotten so much better at "fake" meats.
  • Dave198lbs
    Dave198lbs Posts: 8,810 Member
    Start using more than 2 scoops a day your digestive system can get "lazy" and you lose the ability to extract protein from the foods you eat. You're setting yourself up for badness. Supplements are supplements...not substitutes.

    please cite any authority that supports this. any at all
  • FORIANN
    FORIANN Posts: 273 Member
    Start using more than 2 scoops a day your digestive system can get "lazy" and you lose the ability to extract protein from the foods you eat. You're setting yourself up for badness. Supplements are supplements...not substitutes.

    please cite any authority that supports this. any at all

    I've a friend who is a bio chemist that works for a supplement company and he was talking about some tests and real world examples. Take all the protein you want from supplements...be my guest. I'll continue to use supplements as supplements, instead of substitutes and get most of what I need from a balanced diet.
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