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Whey And Casein In Lactose Intolerant Individuals

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cows
If you are lactose intolerant, then you are quite accustomed to checking to see if dishes contain dairy. You might also be wary of whey and casein protein powders due to their derivation from milk. However, if you have only a mild lactose intolerance, you may not have an issue with whey and casein. Why is this?

Many individuals with a mild lactose intolerance are fine with whey protein isolate as well as with casein. Both whey and casein are separated from the lactose during processing. There are small concentrations of lactose which bypass the separation, but usually this is not enough to mount a reaction in a mildly lactose intolerant individual. Only the most sensitive individuals will have a problem with these forms of protein. Bear in mind that whey concentrate is not the same as whey isolate, and that individuals who are more lactose intolerant or who have other gut issues might not tolerate the concentrate form of whey.

You may be asking what the big deal is with whey and casein, and whether they are better than other forms of protein. Why take a chance of mounting a reaction in the belly when there are other forms of protein?
whey scoop
Whey is a complete protein, meaning that it provides all the amino acids the body requires. It is also relatively cheap. Casein protein is also a complete protein, and is digested very slowly, making it a great option for bedtime.

While soy is also a complete protein, it undergoes considerable processing, and it contains phytoestrogens which are estrogen mimics. I am definitely not a fan of soy protein and will not advocate its use. Rice, hemp and pea proteins are good alternatives for the vegan or vegetarian crowd, but since they are not complete proteins, they must be combined to fill out the amino acid profile. Rice protein is very easily digested, while pea protein has glutamic acid, which helps convert carbs into energy instead of being stored as fat. Hemp protein is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and has a high fiber content.

As long as you mix plant based proteins to get a complete profile, you will not be at a disadvantage if you cannot tolerate whey or casein. However, when it comes to cost, nutrition profile, and convenience, whey will always win the prize for being the king of protein powders.

Why I Love My Slow Cooker

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My chicken comes out drier than this which is what I prefer.

My chicken comes out drier than this which is what I prefer.


Slow cookers are incredible time savers, but I have always struggled with the texture of foods which results from this method of cooking. Red meat cooks incredibly well, but the cuts which work best are higher in fat and tend not to fit into my meal plans. That isn’t much of an issue since I tend to buy 90% lean ground beef patties and just broil them when I need them.

Chicken and yams are another story entirely. I consume both of these food items regularly, and find prepping them to be incredibly tedious. My favorite method of cooking chicken is to grill them outside, so that I get that crispy char, but the intense summer heat has discouraged me from doing this. I was tempted to use my slow cooker but I didn’t like the mealy texture that slow cooking imparted to chicken, so I decided to experiment a bit, and finally hit a winning prep method that works for me. Until the mercury drops to acceptable levels, I will use my slow cooker to cook chicken, employing an incredibly simple prep method.

Here’s what I do: I take about 8 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breast and place it in the slow cooker, then I season HEAVILY with salt free seasoning and lots of black pepper, white pepper and parsley. I then add two to three coarsely chopped onions (usually a mix of red and yellow) and a few cloves of garlic. Sometimes I will also add a few stalks of chopped celery. I DO NOT ADD WATER. I used to add water and never liked the almost mealy consistency which resulted, but then I read Ashley Kaltwasser’s tip about not adding water and tried it, with great results. I allow this mixture to cook for 10 hours on low. The only issue I have with slow cooker chicken is that I need to add a LOT of seasonings to make it tasty, but then again, I like stronger flavors in my meats.

Once I had my chicken slow cooker method down I was pretty happy, but I wanted to figure out a way to make yams with the same marinade I usually use, but in the slow cooker. Typically I will marinate my yams, then throw them on a cookie sheet and bake them, but the summer heat once again got me thinking about cooking methods that didn’t require me to stand near a strong heat source. I turned to my slow cooker once again, but added only a small amount of liquid (contrary to what the manufacturer recommends), resulting in yams which had the perfect degree of softness.

Here’s my slow cooker yam recipe: I wash about ten pounds of yams, then cut them into large cubes. Then I place them in a clean plastic bag. In a bowl, I combine about 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup pomegranate vinegar, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg. I mix this well, then toss into the bag with the yams and shake vigorously until the yams are completely coated. I let this sit overnight. Then the next morning, I simply place the yam mixture into the slow cooker, add 1/2 cup water. I set cooker to 10 hours and let it do its thing. I LOVE the flavor in my yams because it is highly seasoned, and the yams are soft yet not mushy.

Try these recipes and let me know if you like them!

My Nutrition Coach Certification

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NAFC-Logo-05
Despite the fact that I am a fully licensed and board-certified physician, and also hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, I realize that some people get hung up on specific certifications. My education covered nutrition in exhausting detail, which is why I am able to customize meal plans for clients and patients based on a myriad of factors. However, I also obtained a Nutrition Coach certification from NAFC to fortify the credentials I already had.

For those of you who are curious about the course, here are some details:

NAFC’s Nutrition Coach Foundations delivers scientifically-based nutrition education so health and fitness professionals can better serve their clients.

Develop the skills, knowledge and abilities to successfully work with clients seeking goal-based nutritional guidance.
Gain an occupational advantage with enhanced education and a credential to differentiate you from your competition!

NAFC’s Certified Health & Fitness Coaching course blends sound basic science with the latest in nutritional science along with proven coaching skills to help you successfully guide your clients toward better health, better performance, and a better body!

In Section I of this course, you’ll get a strong introduction to the basic sciences; in Section II you’ll become immersed in the field of nutritional science; in Section III you’ll learn about the art & science of being an effective coach; and finally in Section IV you’ll go through a step-by-step set of instructions on how to implement nutritional coaching competently & profitably (including over 30 pages of questionnaires and assessment tools to use with your clients).

No other nutrition certification puts all of these components together. No other nutrition certification was written by a physician with over 35 years of experience in the areas of nutrition, fitness, personal training, anti-aging medicine, and performance enhancement.

The National Association for Fitness Certification was established in 1992 to provide scientifically-based, standards-focused education and training for Group Fitness Instructors, Personal Trainers, and Wellness Consultants. The NAFC’s combination of demanding standards, practical application of scientific principles, and affordable program pricing have defined it as the most rapidly-expanding certifying organization in the industry today.

The NAFC was established by a forward-thinking group of fitness professionals, representing expertise in fields including Exercise Physiology, Adaptive Physical Education, Medicine and Nursing, and Professional Coaching. Their desire was to enhance current fitness certification standards by providing access to convenient and comprehensive – yet practical and affordable – education and skills.

The NAFC follows guidelines established by the American College of Sports Medicine, emphasizing practical information with respect to a comprehensive knowledge base.

Royal Sport Ltd. Ultra Clean 100 Whey Protein

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royalwhey
From the makers of Cellucor comes Royal Sport Ltd., a sports supplement line which is sold exclusively through GNC. Royal Sport Ltd. has a number of products in their lineup, but the newest product is the Ultra Clean 100 Whey Protein. Ultra Clean 100 is gluten free, and contains NO Yeast, NO Wheat, NO Preservatives, NO Added Sugars, NO Hydrogenated Oil, and NO Artificial Colors, Dyes, or Fillers. One scoop of this clean whey protein delivers 20 grams of protein and 100 calories per scoop. This protein mixes so beautifully well that I have NEVER had an issue with shaking it up in a mixer cup. You will never need to use a blender with this protein!

I have tried all of the flavors and truly love them all. They are:

Chocolate Cupcake – This is a very rich chocolate, and I absolutely love it. All you chocolate fiends out there will be very happy with this flavor!

Cinnamon Bun – I love the subtle hint of cinnamon which comes forth in this flavor. It’s not over the top, but you will definitely be able to taste the cinnamon as you drink this.

Vanilla Cream – This is a great vanilla, very creamy with excellent and true vanilla flavor.

Ice Cream Sandwich – This is my favorite flavor in the lineup. It reminds me exactly of the slow churned, super creamy, almost frothy consistency of the ice cream which is found in a really good, old-fashioned style ice cream sandwich. The mouth feel on this one is outstanding and definitely tricks your palate into believing that this is a decadent, fat laden ice cream shake.

I encourage you to try this fantastic protein!

Royal Sport Ltd. Charge Review

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Charge Strawberry Kiwi

I am a big believer in supplementation with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and silk amino acids (SAA) and have tried many brands out there. I can honestly say that I notice a pronounced difference in my post-workout recovery periods when I use Royal Sport Ltd. Charge BCAA-SAA Blend. Charge delivers 5 grams of SAA’s and 4 grams BCAA’s per scoop, and dissolves beautifully in water. Ever since I began using Charge as my BCAA-SAA, I have noticed a dramatic decrease in the amount of delayed onset muscle soreness from my workouts, especially when I engage in extremely intense leg days or delt days (I’m trying to build up my shoulders). I used to wince when walking downstairs the day after pounding legs, but these days, I don’t get that breathtaking soreness. It almost messes with me because I almost welcome that feeling of wobbly, wrecked legs!

What about the flavors? I absolutely love the Raspberry Lemonade and Fruit Punch flavors and could drink them all day without being overpowered by sweetness. I guess I am a bit of an oddball because I don’t want overly sweet flavors, especially when I am consuming something throughout the day. The Raspberry Lemonade flavor has a good balance of raspberry and lemon flavors and is really refreshing when put on ice. I also really like the Strawberry Kiwi flavor but sometimes find that this flavor gets a bit too sweet when I drink it throughout the day, so I just add more water to dilute it a bit and it’s fine. Though I like the Blood Orange flavor, it isn’t my favorite, but that’s just personal preference. I tend to get very tired of orange flavored products very quickly. Case in point: in a rare moment of soda consumption, I chose Orange Fanta Zero, and after about three sips, I was tired of the orange flavor. If you love orange flavor, then you would probably love the Blood Orange, but it’s just okay for me.

Overall, Royal Sport Charge is a superior product with great flavors!

You can find Royal Sport Ltd. products at GNC stores and through GNC.com:

http://www.gnc.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=royal%20sport%20ltd.&origkw=royal%20sport%20ltd.&f=Taxonomy/GNC/13200328&sr=1

Angela Kirkland’s Whole Wheat and Oat Chocolate Zucchini Muffin Recipe

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I stumbled across this post that my talented friend Angela Kirkland had posted on her Facebook page. This woman is a genius at concocting the most delectable recipes! Though I have not made this, I am sure it is spectacular!

Angela Kirkland’s Whole Wheat and Oat Chocolate Zucchini Muffin Recipe

https://www.facebook.com/fit4figure

July 15, 2011 at 9:03am
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup brown rice flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
½ cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons flaxmeal
½ cup dark cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 large eggs
1 ¼ cup Stevia or Splenda (agave may be used, just increase wheat flour by 1/3cup)
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 ½ cups grated zucchini
1 cup dark chocolate chips (optional, may use sugar free or carob chips too!)

Measure all dry ingredients and place into mixing bowl. In separate bowl, combine the shredded zucchini, oil, applesauce, vanilla, and eggs until mixed. Fold in dry ingredients until well combined. Grease baking pans of your liking…mini loaf pans, muffin tins or large bread pans. Sprinkle with oats over the top and bake at 325 until the top is set and a toothpick comes out clean from the center J
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Food Network: Food I Can Never Eat

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Food Network LogoThe Food Network is my favorite television channel, and I watch it regularly. I appreciate the chemistry and creativity behind culinary efforts and enjoy the visual appeal of dishes that are prepared and served. Perhaps my favorite show on the Food Network is Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”, in which Guy travels all over the United States in pursuit of the best reasonably priced eats around. What is so sad is the fact that I can virtually never indulge in the featured dishes at the restaurants Guy visits, because they are so laden with everything I am NOT supposed to eat!

You would think that not being able to eat the foods that are featured on the Food Network would be enough to deter me from watching it regularly, but I get great pleasure from watching it. I must get some vicarious pleasure out of watching others eat forbidden dishes or something. My interest in this channel is so extreme that whenever I travel for IFBB Pro competitions (incidentally, I used to do this when I was an amateur in the NPC as well), I will turn the television on, find the Food Network, then leave it on 24/7 while staying at a hotel. This strange habit of keeping the t.v. on in a hotel room is one I have had for many years, but it wasn’t until 2011 when I began tuning into the Food Network while traveling. I have had fellow competitors come up to my room and remark on how tortuous it is to see shows about food on t.v, and only then does it hit me that this quirk of mine is a bit strange.

To a certain extent I miss the days when I was a foodie, indulging in gustatory delights with some frequency. However, on the rare occasions when I HAVE indulged, I usually pay the price for the next several days as my body tries to figure out what attacked it! The only thing my body can handle is a moderate cheat meal which does not consist of eating at more than one restaurant in an evening. Though this has only happened a handful of times over the years, I have had post-contest cheat meals in which I have visited one restaurant for a specific food craving, then another for a fellow competitor’s food craving, then a third place for dessert. After such gluttony, my belly is distended, my digestive tract is angry, and I pool subcutaneous water into the backs of my legs.

Since decadent foods make my body angry, I would much prefer to watch a television show which features those foods so that I can enjoy a calorie-free fantasy. This way I can indulge in hot fudge sundaes, mile-high burgers, heaping piles of pasta, and rich sauces without guilt!

Clean Body, Clean Mind?

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brain fogI am a huge proponent of eating clean year-round and practice it pretty faithfully. On the rare occasions when I have slipped a bit, I have noticed that my concentration, energy level and sense of well being take a major nosedive. I can actually feel my body winding down and my mental clarity sinking into a fog that makes it difficult to power through my to-do list.

Our bodies are machines, and like any machine, optimal fuel can make a huge difference in performance. Why fill your tank with junk foods when you can fill it with nutritious food options? I am willing to bet that you have felt very different when you have eaten a clean meal such as a skinless chicken breast, steamed vegetables and brown rice, versus a meal of fried chicken, coleslaw and mashed potatoes. Concentration and mental clarity diminish when fast food and junk food are consumed.

Skin-Power-Of-Selenium-Nutrient

Another important consideration with nutrient-poor foods is that they tend to be low in selenium, an important mineral and potent antioxidant. Signs of selenium deficiency include fatigue, poor concentration, and low immunity. However, if you consume more whole food sources, incorporating selenium rich foods like grass fed beef, free range chicken, shrimp, salmon, tuna, halibut, oats, brown rice, broccoli, asparagus, spinach or Brazil nuts, you can successfully fend off selenium deficiency.

You can also optimize brain function by making sure to eat regular, small meals throughout the day, instead of adopting a “feast or famine” approach in which you skip meals and then pig out on a large and unhealthy meal towards the end of the day. Small, frequent meals keep your metabolism at a steady hum and provide fuel and nutrients for cellular repair and essential bodily functions and activities. When protein is consumed, levels of tyrosine increase in the brain, which leads to the formation of norepinephrine and dopamine, both of which promote alertness and activity. The brain also uses glucose exclusively as a fuel source and cannot store it, so it relies on a constant supply from the bloodstream. When you skip meals, blood glucose levels can drop to precipitously low levels, compromising the fuel supply to your noggin, resulting in the familiar “brain fog” that creeps up.

If you haven’t begun eating clean, I strongly suggest that you do so in order to maximize body and brain function. You have only one body, so take care of it!

How Much Protein I Eat

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protein sourcesLet me begin by stating that I am an unapologetic carnivore, which is unusual since I am a massive animal lover. I will eat just about any muscle meat except veal, and I consistently eat beef, chicken, and turkey. On average, I consume between 150 to 200 grams of protein each day, which is equivalent to between 30 and 40 ounces of chicken. Yes, I eat the equivalent of about 2 pounds of chicken per day, split into 6 or 7 meals evenly spaced throughout the day. In an effort to mix up protein sources for the sake of variety, I also include egg whites, whey protein, P28 High Protein Bread, salmon, tilapia, and orange roughy in my meal plan.

Why so much protein? For one thing, my body craves and responds well to a high protein intake. Secondly, I need to consume sufficient protein to offset the natural propensity for muscle loss that begins to assert itself after age 40. Lastly, my training is structured to help me build muscle, so I must eat sufficient protein in order to ensure maximal muscle growth. It is difficult for me to eat a meal which lacks a decent protein source because I know that doing such a thing is a disservice to my body.

You may be asking if you need to eat the same amount of protein as I do, or more than that if you are a man. Let me be very clear: if you are dedicated to a regular resistance training regimen, and your goal is to build muscle, then you probably should be consuming more protein than you are currently taking in. Though the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance is set at 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for adults, I consider that quantity of protein an absolute joke. In fact, the U.S. RDA guidelines are so completely lacking in a true reflection of OPTIMAL values for people that I honestly believe that they shouldn’t be taken that seriously.

I would recommend an intake of about 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight in individuals who perform resistance training consistently, and over 2 grams of protein per kilogram body weight in athletes. I push the envelope and employ a ratio of around 3 grams per kilogram body weight. When I consume less protein, I look flat, my energy lags, and my skin loses its glow. As a disclaimer, I caution anyone with kidney issues or any other medical issues which would be exacerbated by a high protein intake to consult with their primary physicians before implementing an increased protein intake.