To think that people who have "protein powders" to be healthy are sadly misguided?

[ultimus]

I've just seen a 'Lean in 15' recipe on FB that has 'protein powder' as one of the ingredients. I winced! It sounds disgusting.

I read of personal trainers advising people who train to drink a 'protein powder' drink afterward to be healthy. Famous dieticians advocating the use of these powders in recipes as part of 'eating clean'.

But look at the ingredients:

Aspartame, sucralose, maltodextrin, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, flavourings.

How on earth can these powders be advocated as a 'clean' or 'healthy' way of living?

I'm not talking about 'blokes.' In my posts I'm clear that I'm referring to young (mostly) men. Lots of sports coaches, parents and teachers are worried that protein shakes could be seen as a magic bullet and in time, as the pressure to bulk up more increases, this will shift to steroid use. As the parent of a teenage boy I've been told time and again to avoid letting my DS start on protein shakes.

I appreciate your concerns Pirate, but I think you are overstating the likely hood of protein powder use leading to steroid use

Thanks for your advice
no probs, although much of what I've said amounts to 'try things and see what works'...not sure if that qualifies as advice!

some strength training may help,in theory the more muscle you have the more you can eat without gaining fat, my daily intake was lower when I was younger and didn't do any lifting

but I think you are overstating the likely hood of protein powder use leading to steroid use

I wouldn't say protein shakes are a gateway to steroid use.

As I said earlier I work in the fitness industry and many work colleagues and friends are competitive bodybuilders (male and female) and/or previous competitors who now coach clients to the stage. I also have a few friends that own guns in my area.

The reason there is a link is due to some peoples (mainly young men) lack of knowledge.

These young men go to the gym a bit and lift weights a bit. Drink protein shakes everyday and expect their muscles to magically bulk. When that doesn't happen they start looking round for alternatives. Rather than educating themselves on how to eat right and bulk correctly. It's a quick fix.

I can tell you that everyone I know in my work life and social life feel steroid use in young men is going up at a big rate and they are all approached a lot to find out what steroids they use.

Body building is largely unregulated. Many on stage are using.

For me it's a similar path as EDs. They are determined to get the 'perfect body' asap and go to extremes. The same as the young girls you see in the papers who are so desperate lose weight they buy illegal slimming pills of the Internet and end up sick or worse.

Steroid use is on the rise.

Protein shakes don't lead to steroid abuse. I would however be doing my best to educate my kids if they decided to start adding protein shakes into their diets. My kids are both athletes, so are quite well educated on sports nutrition. If they were fluffing protein shakes with little exercise I would be concerned.

I have actually known young men at dds school (I say young men they are 6th form) simply drink protein shakes with every and complain they aren't getting any muscle.

Proteins shakes are advertised as a magic solution and that if you drink these you will look like this model. Similar to how slimming tablets are touted. That is the problem, imo.

Choughed if you think it's ridiculous to say that protein shakes could be a gateway to steroids, you have no idea of what's going on with teenage boys and the pressure they're under to bulk up.

They might be feeling under pressure but there's no evidence that they're doing much about it. Only 55% of 16-25 year olds do a minimum of one exercise session a week. We're far better to focus on those teenagers who are glued to the sofa getting fat.

Regardless of the ingredients it's still a highly processed food.

If you are in government that view makes sense Choughed. If your child is part of a particular group then it pays to be aware.

Childhood obesity is a completely different matter. As a pp has said protein powders and steroid abuse are, within certain circles, on the rise.

I also have a few friends that own guns in my area

Steady on Katenka!

It is a shame suzzane these shows make it at such a low level. I refuse to believe the average person in the uk is that stupid.

I blame BBC knowledge, they've moved anything remotely intellectual from bbc2 to there. I'd close it down and put high brow stuff back on bbc2.

Regarding supplements, body building, and steroids... there actually is a point to that.

There are "Natural" bodybuilding competitions and it's a widely known secret that they cheat. A lot. They know how to get around the screening and the judges know it's going on. The winners of these competitions can get endorsements by supplement companies. So, there's a photo of a big, ripped guy in the advert for the protein w/ creatine powder. And it says, "John Smith... 2013 Natural Bodybuilding World Champion." John looks very much like the guys on steroids because he IS on steroids. But the consumer thinks, "That guy got that way with just this supplement and lifting lots of weights!"

At some point, he may twig to the truth that you cannot look like John Smith unless you take steroids.

That said, there are all-natural body builders who do well with high-protein diets/protein supplements and lifting lots of weights. It does indeed help to build big muscles if you lift a LOT of weights and eat more protein than the normal diet.

Dyslexic I remember when you could really learn something exciting from the old Horizon programme.
I am getting BBC weary these days.

Is all fluffy and dumbed down Disney these days isn't

Yes, I remember watching horizon with my dad ( a doctor) in the 80s and learning stuff that was relevant to A level biology and having some really good discussions afterwards. Also remember open university programming, which we used to laugh at because of the kipper ties but it was probably top notch education for free.

I blame Brian cox

He is a bit like Bambi..

Yes to open university!

Steady on Katenka

You sound way too 'gangsta' for MN

I try suzanne