Whey in abundance

[cathex]

Is there any reason not to use lots of whey as your main protein source. I mean taking about 5-6 servings per day.

The reason I ask is because the cost per serving isn't that different to a meat source, say chicken, and it is so easy to prepare. I am so busy all the time and don't often get time to prepare lots of elaborate dishes like they show them eating in M&F for example.

I know this may sound like silly question to some but I was just wondering whether there's a reason no to use beyond a certain amount per day.

[buck]

It is all most always better to get a varied source of nutrition. Whey is good. But meat and other dairy products have many nutrional items in them that you are not going to get from an all whey diet.

[cathex]

Originally Posted by Frosty

There are a few reasons.

1. Whey is a processed food. It's not Rice Krispies bad, in terms of processed foods, but it is still a processed food in that it is not a whole food source. What this means is that not all of the nutrients required to utilize it are present in it. For example, whey protein contains calcium, yet no vitamin D (which is used to utilize the calcium). Vitamin D is normally in milk, but the processed whey does not contain this. When eating too much of a food that doesn't contain the nutrients required to utilize it, you can create nutritional deficiencies. Whole milk contains vitamin A, which is needed for protein utilization, but whey does not. So you will use up your vitamin A stores (which is probably low in most people to begin with) to utilize this processed food.

2. Whey is very quickly digested. This means that you won't have the slow "time realease" amino acids that you get when you eat meat. This is especially important over night.

3. Whey limits nutrient intake. Using only whey severely limits your nutrient intake. Steak has protein along with fat, and there are all sorts of good important nutrients found in both the meat and the fat of a steak. Fish also have a lot of beneficial nutrients in it, and things like liver and shellfish have a TON of nutrients. Eating mostly whey severely limits what you get.

4. If you're cutting, whey is less thermogenic than meat. This means you're burning less calories using the whey.

Yes Frosty thanks for that info. I'm not acually suggesting replacing all my proetein sources with whey, just having more than the usual two servings per day. I do still get good sources of protein from fish, chicken, eggs, steak and cheese etc.

PS. That's one hell of a back you got there, is that you in your avatar bro?

[nightcrew213]

Its weird......I'm lactose intolerant but the only protein I can handle is whey isolate and concentrate.If I drink milk or even soy,I shit my brains out and fart all day.

[novicebb]

Originally Posted by buck

It is all most always better to get a varied source of nutrition. Whey is good. But meat and other dairy products have many nutrional items in them that you are not going to get from an all whey diet.

I agree with buck. Frosty makes some good points but his main reason seems to be because of mineral and vitamin deficiencies that whey offers. If that was the only reason why not to consume large amounts of whey supplements as meal replacements then you can compusate that by taking a couple of great time release multivitamin/mineral. The main reason you shouldnt have whey to supplement all your meals is because most whey supplements have very low carbs and fats even the whey casinate versions. You need varity to your diet to see in change just like you need variety in your fitness training. Whole food meals offer many benefits that many processed products dont: Natural minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, phytochemicals and many other benefits that I believe scientists havent discovered. Like Frosty stated: Whole meals are more thermogenic than whey because it takes longer and more energy than digest than whey protien. Look to up your protein intake if you must take maybe a couple more servings a day then fine. Just don't substitute all or most of your meals with whey protein powder.

[j martini]

After my last contest my entire off season diet consisted almost entirely of whey protein mixed with whole milk with candy bars i gained 20 pounds of muscle for my next contest my calories were 6000 a day with 300 grams of protein and over a thousand grams of carbs a day of which 90% was pure sugar i wouldnt recommend this for everyone though as i am an extremely easy gainer with a lightning metabolism

[dtricome]

Whey can be used as the protein source. I don't think cathex was giving up food.

Whey is the cheapest source of protein. For example, protein in tuna is more expensive.