how to drink whey?

right...I got a question that is probably obvious... is it unwise to drink a protein shake with a whole food meal? for example...is eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich a multi vitamin and a protein shake a complete meal? I have the impression that whey protein is designed to be "predigested" so that it can be absorbed more quickly and with less effort.  Is it therefore not good to eat with whole foods? thanks

There is recent evidence that suggests otherwise.  I'll have to find it (if I can, sorry). 

No, I don't think it's a bad idea.  In fact it will help to keep you from spiking your insulin levels which is good.  Unless its post work out and that's what you want.  You should try to consume some kind of complete protein with every meal so if your meal doesn't consist of that then adding a shake is a good thing.  You might want to consider adding the whey to a casein form of protein i.e. cottage chesse.  That protein is a little slower digesting and will make sure that your are ingesting a complete protein.

Edited by Tim Pinkerton

The original evidence of a limit on the body's ability to metabolize protein was in a poorly constructed study back in the 50's.  Other studies have shown that you can handle as much protein as you can stomache (like, 300 g or more in a sitting).

If you're interested in protein metabolism, you might try a PubMed search for work by PW Lemon.  His work suggests that 1.7-1.8 grams of protein per day per kg of bodyweight is optimal for (natural) strength athletes.  Consuming a lot more than that just results in the body consuming it like a carbohydrate.

-Wayne

Wayne's calculation is based on kgs of body weight.  So don't take it times 140 but instead 63.6.  That would only come out to about 114 grams of protein.  Not that much.  I would say that the recommendation would change with the athlete.  A preseason football player having 2-a-days and lifting would need more protein than your typical field athlete.  Pound per pound that is.  The thinking being that it is much easier to maintain a positive nitrogen balance the more sedentary you are.

Lemon's recommendation is based on BW, rather than LBM, although it's pretty much universally assumed that LBM or muscle mass are more appropriate bases.  LBM and muscle mass are well over 50% of BW for both of you fellers.

Using the BW basis, he'd recommend 216-229 grams per day for a 280 lb strength athlete.

Lemon may have been the first to demonstrate that more active athletes need more protein than less active athletes, but he also showed that stength athletes need more (on a weight basis) than aerobic athletes.  When you consider that many aerobic athletes have a higher percentage of LBM than strength athletes, it's clear that the higher absolute muscle mass of the strength athlete needs much more maintenance than that of the aerobic athlete. (Make sense?)

-Wayne

Mike you have taken away one of my simple pleasures.

Found this article on t-mag.com about protein

http://www.t-nation.com/readTopic.do;jsessionid=70FCEEEE9EA0 FFA6A2ABCA68903DC027.hydra?id=844243

Focuses on protein and aminos.

Rick

Silverback wrote: More is better.

I agree.

Barron, I think that was a "yes" to your question.