Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a Tuffet,
Eating her curds and whey,
Along came a spider,
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away
There are several people in my life that would welcome a visit from a spider any day instead of eating whey. Years ago, I too would have agreed because at that time I had no understanding of what whey was.
My first introduction to whey protein was in 2004 when I learned about Ann Louise Gitttleman and The Fat Flush Plan from a work colleague. We were at DAC – Design Automation Conference and my colleague explained to me that his wife had be following this program with immediate success. Upon my return home, I not only purchased the book for myself but also for my girlfriend Daryl. We read the book, jumped on the Gittleman bandwagon and followed The Fat Flush Plan.
One of the suggested recipes included in the book was a fruit smoothie made with protein powder. Daryl suggested using whey powder because during this time, her mother was battling breast cancer and she had been researching foods to help her mother and found whey protein had many attributes that were beneficial. Per the Whey Protein Institute (formally Whey if Life) “Whey protein is an excellent protein choice for cancer patients as it is very easy to digest and very gentle to the system. Whey protein may be added to a wide variety of foods and beverages to increase the protein content without affecting taste.”
The Whey Protein Institute defines whey protein as “a high quality protein powder from cow’s milk. Milk has two proteins: Casein (approximately 80%) and Whey Protein (approximately 20%). Whey protein is more soluble than casein and also has a higher quality rating. It is often referred to as the “Gold Standard” of protein as it is the most nutritious protein available.”
Whey Protein has many positive attributes that contribute to good heath, including:
- Physical Performance
- Weight Management
- Cardiovascular Health
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Infant Nutrition
- Healthy Aging
- Wound Care
Over the years, I have tried a variety of whey protein products; Jay Robb is my favorite. Some of my reasons include: it is high in protein, 30 grams; it is low in carbohydrates, 1 gram; it has no fat, 0 grams; it is low in calories, 110; and, it tastes great! Also, there are single serving packets available which are great to take to work or when you travel and are trying to remain on your diet regime. The powder can be added to a bottle of water or juice. Odwalla products seem to be available at many airports and some airports even have a Jamba Juice.
When at home, I make a fresh berry smoothie most days for breakfast, see the recipe below. It is healthy and low in calories (approximately 300), refreshing, and it satiates me until lunch. Daryl also drinks this every morning. However, when making her weekly supply on Sunday, she blends in 2-3 cups of spinach. She then freezes them in Tuperware’s All-in-One Shaker; she has 10 containers as her husband enjoys these healthy concoctions daily as well. Before bed, she takes two of the shakes from the freezer and lets it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Viola, after a “quick shake” it is ready to consume, while driving to work.
Whether you are dieting, exercising, maintaining and improving your health, or if you are looking for a quick, refreshing way to kick start your day, whey protein has many uses as well as health benefits for all.
Stop waiting for the spider to frighten you away. Incorporate whey into your daily meal plan and enjoy this powerful protein and all that it has to offer.
It’s definitely the whey to go!
