Protein Powder?

[Boysenberry]

What protein powder have you been using? RAW?

My husband is a die hard in the "need for protein" arena, and if it weren't for that he would be 100% raw forever. So, I know what mainstream says about protien and have certainly done my share of research on the subject, but I was under the impression that as a raw vegan, our protein was to come from plant sources only. Can anyone fill me in on this protein powder dilemma?

[rawredbone]

I use Hemp powder in my smothies. I sometimes sprinkle it on my Salads

[Revvell]

I'm not clear on what dilemma you are speaking of. If you go to the home page, Alissa has written about protein if that's of any help to you.

Revvell

[twinee1]

While I agree with Alissa's info on Protein....I also understand "the dilemma". I find I feel best when I get a certain amount of protein, everyone is different. My training and cardio sessions do require a certain amount of repair that the protein gives me. I am by no means getting even close to what I was pre raw (150 grams a day ) and find I do not even need 1/2 that much. I do need some concious eating to get to what I find to be my minimum.

With out the supplement I do not reach that Goal. So I found the following to be helpful.

1. Thor's Raw Power is my Favorite (at rawfoods.com)
2. Alissa has a good Hemp Powder in her store
3. NitriBionics Rice Protein Powder (it does not advoacate that it is Raw, but Vegan...in my research and contacting them it is technicall Raw, processed only with enzymes to seperate the protein and dried at 90 degree's)
4. Ultimate Meal (ultimatemeal.com)

Hope this helps.

[Boysenberry]

According to fit day, I am getting 60-75 g protein every day just on fruits and veggies, nuts and sprouted grains.

Revell, The dilemma is if we are raw, where does it supposedly come from and how can we justify a protein powder. I didnt' know there were any raw ones out. Since there are raw ones out there I think that is great.

I also weight train. I am curious how much muscle I will be able to attain with out a supplement.

So, twinnee, how much protein powder do you feel you need to supplement with in order to attain your goals? How do you know protein is what you need? I am curious.

This was a subject up for discussion when I went raw. Even argument with the person who introduced this to me. I read a couple of raw body builder sites. They had pictures of themselves, rock hard and cut and their diets listed. Mostly fruit, maybe a half cup of nuts, greens, no supplementation.

[Revvell]

Revell, The dilemma is if we are raw, where does it supposedly come from and how can we justify a protein powder. I didnt' know there were any raw ones out. Since there are raw ones out there I think that is great.

Boysenberry,

I'm still not sure ~ "supposedly"? It comes from all the food we eat. EVERYTHING made in nature has protein in it. EVERY natural food we put in our bodies contains the amino acids to make protein. Here's a question for you ~ How many people do you know who have become ill or died from lack of protein? In my almost 57 years, I don't know of any. What I DO know is, MANY, MANY are dying from excess protein which creates such fun things as osteoporosis, kidney failure, heart disease and cancer, etc.

I have been vegetarian since 1986; off and on raw for 5-6 years now and have found no need to take supplements of any kind. That's why I'm wondering about the "dilemma". As far as "justifying" protein powder? In my opinion if one's food program consists of chips and soda then not only protein powder would be justified yet a whole realm of nutritional needs would need to be addressed.

You asked a very important question: "How do you know protein is what you need?" Unless one keeps track of all their nutrients AND things such as oxalic acids, etc., how DOES one tell? That would be the dilemma to me. :)

Revvell

[twinee1]

Well alot depends on your goals, how much you train and how much you eat,

I was finding I was losing muscle my first few months into the raw diet, and I was very weak in the gym. As time went on my strength started to come back but not to the level I was used to. Also I was not recovering from work out to work out. So I was getting about 45 grams a day at that point. That is on a diet of greens, green drinks, cholerella and spirulina nuts and Hemp (which in the beginning I could not stomach so I did about 1/2 serving a day). So now I shoot for about 75 a day max.

How do I tell how much I need ? year and years of experience. I have been training 18 years, competing 6....so at current level I recover, my strength is good...at much more I get gas, bloat, uncomfy and digestive problems. This is the reason I abandoned the traditional high protein diet favored by Bodubuilders and went raw vegetarian. My body was not digesting the high protein anymore (after yr and yrs sucessfully handling it..)..

So Revell I see what you are saying and appreciate it , if that works for you that is great, everyone is different. So for me at my calorie level of somewhere between 900-1200 cals a day it is impossible to get my protein in with all my greens and nuts, hemp and so on. Even taking the 30 spirulina, cholerella's and green food, dulce, sea veggie... I was not getting close to what you say you get from food. I even do a huge head of Kale every day in my Green drinks and that is pretty high in protein.

I simply do not eat enough (that is a long history so I will not bore you with at this post..) and I am not going to all the sudeen just start eating more cals..so best option for me is to add the RAW protein powders...and yes there are a few out there that I think qualify. So I beleive you can be Vegan Raw and still seek out supplemental protein powders options. I do not feel I am compromising in this area. Others may feel it is not for them. I appreciate that.

[tglasco4]

I am sure there are those that need certain vitamins or minerals more than others because of the uniqueness of their constitution. Some may need calcium more, others protein etc. But as a whole I have personally completely rejected the whole protein hype that we have been continually fed as a society.

As for me, I believe that fruit, veggies, nuts and grains contain everything we need for health and strength. Needless to say, I use no protein powder . But if someone feels that they have some sort of deficiency, maybe it helps them either physically or psychologically.

Football players who play a game based on collisions, require more bulk than is normally natural in order for them to play the game. Bodybuilders, because they want to pack on as much muscle as they possibly can to their frames, consume many more calories in general (and protein in particular), than a person that just wants to be fit.

Unless you fall into one of the above categories, I wouldn't place too much emphasis on it. But rather, make sure you are getting enough calories into your system to energize you for both your workouts and whatever life brings.

Peace.

Todd

[Boysenberry]

Twinnee - Are you getting your desired results with weight training using protein powder? Since you were typical bodybuilder diet before raw, how does the muscle mass maintained/gained compare?

Todd - Do you lift weights? Congrats on your running adventures. How did the four miler go with your buddy? I feel like you do, that I personally should be able to get all the protein I need from fruits, veggie,nuts, grains that I eat. I have not been able to "prove" that to myself yet, as I could not work out when I first went raw, no energy. It took a couple of months to get the hang of it before I could work out again.

Revell - I feel there has been a miscommunication between us and I sense hostility. Pardon. This whole protein issue has been a big one for me when I went raw. I have been lifting weights for about five years now and always used a whey based protien powder. I thought there were only two types available, whey or soy. I didn't know about hemp, or rice...certainly not raw.

[Revvell]

Revell - I feel there has been a miscommunication between us and I sense hostility. Pardon.

Boysenberry,

You're sense is inaccurate. I am stating my opinion and my knowledge, experience and understanding as a bodybuilder and martial-artist of long-standing. When I was a meat-eater and lifting many hours daily I had muscle, covered with bulk. As a vegetarian, and again, lifting many hours a day, I had major muscle w/out the bulk. At no time did I add protein powders of any kind. What you, or anyone else chooses to do is of no concern to me.

I was responding to "where does it come from" and the answer is, from the food we eat.

I will now step out of the conversation.

Have a delight-filled day ~

Revvell

[tglasco4]

Boysenberry,

Yes, I lift 3x per week (on days I don't run). It took time before I had the energy to have the schedule I do now as far as working out. I am still very careful to avoid burnout and/or overtraining. My workouts are more efficient now than in the previous 30+ years I have been playing with weights. At this time I am able to do 19 sets of different exercises within 25 minutes. When I am done I feel refreshed and not drained of energy. I feel like I always reach the muscle to its fullest. I have gained muscle and strength although it takes more time than if I was trying to consume thousands of calories and proteins. The balance of running with lifting has been extraordinary for me. My buddy never got up to run with me...lol. Running with the handweights can't be over-estimated to me with regard to its benefits in strength and muscle developement.

Todd

[twinee1]

Boysenb.,

I find I get a fair amount from food if I keep the dark Greens high but some days I fall short due to the limited time I have to prepare food, and my Job is on the road so if I am gone all day into the night I need something quick, easy to mix in water. That is why I supplement with the powders. I try to get in two scoops a day or about an additional 25 grams. A far cry from the days when I was doing 3-4 whey protein shakes and the Protein Bars (ugh gross to me now!!) Now I did add muscle during this time but then stripped some back off in the contest cut down phase. A vicious cycle competitors deal with.

I am finding I need in the range of 60-75 to maintain my muscle and training recovery. I think the extreme high amounts the BB do is un-needed 200-300-400 a day !! (as TG states, and it is somewhat a $$ making issue for those who promote them).

BUT on the other hand if I decided to build more I would need to increase my protein. Yes resistence training is what builds muscle, but MY body does need additional building blocks to work with if you want to add above average amts of muscle. (others like Alissa say they build muscle looking at weights..grrr)

So for now I am in the maintain mode. I am interested to see if I can add muscle doing lower protein on the raw diet...only time will tell and I will be proven wrong in my theroy.

How do I tell if I am getting to much protein..? Simple I get gasy bloated, and digestive issues. That is the biggest reason I took a break from my competitions (and may not do anymore..) I cannot handle high protein like I could when I was younger. My body revolts.

Hope this helps...

[animalgod]

If you are looking to use protein hemp protein is the way to go. Right now Im using Nutiva Hemp Protein Powder. God bless.

[Punky]

I like to add raw hemp protein powder to my smoothies sometimes.
I also enjoy the hemp seeds added to my salads.
Various online raw sites sell these, including Alissa.

[Boysenberry]

Thanks everybody for responses. I averaged only 57 grams of protein this week from food. I am going to give it a bit longer to see if I can build muscle without supplementation.