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protein powders by vegan medical doctor furhman


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Food is the fuel for muscle growth

 

For years, protein powders have been a common dietary supplement used by bodybuilders and other athletes in training. The prevailing theory among these groups has been that the additional muscle-building properties of protein powder would provide them with a competitive advantage.

 

Knowing that protein is the key raw material involved in the repair, preservation and growth of muscle tissue, bodybuilders, in particular, believe that the protein supplied in powder is an economical way to get large amounts of protein, more easily absorbed — and that more is better to achieve their lean muscle mass goals.

 

These fallacies have made their way into the mainstream of late, and now protein powder is being packaged “to-go” and marketed to the non-athlete as a meal replacement, a quick pick-me-up, or even as a health food.

 

Let’s examine the role protein plays in muscle-growth and the relative effectiveness and safety of protein powder:

 

Exercise is the primary factor that determines muscle mass, and the right foods are the fuel.

 

The first important thing to note is that it is exercise – not food – that stimulates muscle growth! Dietary protein does, however, provide the raw materials that muscles need in order to grow. Many whole plant foods, such as green vegetables, beans and seeds, are protein-rich and provide adequate protein for muscle growth.

 

But what’s wrong with protein powders?

 

When we consume animal protein, the body increases its production of a hormone called IGF-1, (insulin-like growth factor 1). IGF-1 is one of the body’s important growth promoters early in life, but later in life IGF-1 promotes the aging process. Igf-1 has been shown to promote the growth, proliferation and spread of cancer cells, and elevated IGF-1 levels are linked to increased risk of several cancers, including breast, colon and prostate cancer.1-5

 

Unnaturally concentrated, “isolated” soy protein, such as that found in protein powders and meat substitutes, are particularly problematic. The essential amino acid profile of soy is the most “complete,” plant protein, meaning the closest to animal protein, as it is the amino acid profile of animal protein that sparks IGF-1 production.6 It is when soy is processed and concentrated as “isolated” soy protein, that it can have similar negative hormonal effects to animal proteins, which does not occur with more natural forms of soy such as tofu, tempeh and soybeans. Obviously, whey and casein based protein powders are strongly IGF-1 promoting.

 

Learn more in Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Times Newsletter #43: Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 and Cancer

 

Can you build muscle while keeping IGF-1 levels in a safe range?

 

Muscle growth is not dependent on only the amount of IGF-1 circulating in the blood – muscle tissue produces its own IGF-1 in response to strength training to fuel muscle growth.7 A combination of strength training and a Nutritarian diet will result in lower, cancer-preventive levels of IGF-1 levels circulating in the blood, while still allowing for local production of IGF-1 needed for muscle-building.

 

What are the best muscle-building foods?

 

Whole food sources of protein are the best choice. High-protein plant foods such as sunflower seeds, hemp seeds and Mediterranean pine nuts, blended into shakes and smoothies, is a high-nutrient substitute for nutrient-poor protein powders. Intact whole grains (such as oats, quinoa and wild rice) are rich in micronutrients, as well as protein.

 

For those that insist on using isolated protein powders, hemp, rice and pea proteins are better choices than soy protein, since their amino acid profiles are not as close to that of animal protein.

 

Learn more in Dr. Fuhrman's Healthy Times Newsletter #42: Fueling the Vegan Athlete

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