Bodybuilders are often generalized as brawn over brain, but I’ve found that the most dedicated workout peeps are some of the most knowledgeable experts on biochemistry and nutrition. That’s because the optimization of fitness has everything to do with what you eat, a reason why Crossfit and Paleo Diet have become almost inseparable.
Have you noticed that many things bodybuilders have taken forever (whey protein, amino acids, d-ribose etc) have become sold as targeted supplements for the patient population? Blame our methylation cycle blocks, leaky gut syndrome (LGS), and anaerobic metabolism reliance leading to muscle wasting. Finding a way to optimize protein synthesis and recovery after exertion has been a big goal of mine for a very long time. I eat lots of animal protein, but the LGS gets in the way of proper digestion and absorption. When I was at the peak of my physical fitness, I was 175 pounds. Now I never let myself get hungry, probably eat 500% of the RDI for fat, and yet, can’t climb above 155. Absorption, you lose.
I’ve always wanted to eat whey protein because it’s a fast-digesting (compared to the slow-digesting animal proteins) so it would get absorbed better. Although some would argue that processed proteins are always worse than whole foods, when you’re not digesting animal proteins properly, supplementing may make sense to get your amino acid levels up. It’s also a great source of glutathione, aka the master detoxifier that so many of us are deficient in due to a methylation cycle block. The downfall is that every single whey protein I’ve ever tried has bombed my gut one way or another. Thankfully my dad loves these hand-me-downs.
I’ve also really really wanted to eat eggs again because they’re one of the most nutrient dense foods on the planet. But with my autoimmune disease, I haven’t tolerated an egg (organic included) in 2 years.
Creamy Turmeric Whey Protein Egg Yolk Shakapalooza!
Many experiments, messy kitchens, and episodes of bloating later, I found a way to tolerate the whey & egg! The bonus: it can actually be quite tasty and anti-inflammatory. This is a play off of the simplified creamy turmeric tea.
Throw the following into a blender:
- 6-8 ounces hot water
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1-2 tbsp coconut butter (or coconut oil if you don’t like the fibers)
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 scoop Jay Robb’s Unflavored Whey Protein Isolate (WPI)
Russian Embryo © by Thirteen Of Clubs
The Right Egg
I won’t recommend that anyone else do, but I eat mine raw. There’s ongoing debate about the safety of raw eggs so do your research. I get it from a local farmer and sterilize the shell with hydrogen peroxide. Eating it raw has allowed me to tolerate eggs again beyond my wildest imagination. Why not the whole egg? The avidin in egg whites is actually an inhibitor of biotin, which is one of the best nutrients in the egg yolk. Also, the nutritional content of egg whites is pretty much useless when you don’t need the protein.
For more discussion on egg yolks vs whites: http://paleodietlifestyle.com/an-egg-yolk-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/
If you want to try uncooked egg but get jitters from thoughts of salmonella, then I would try the widely-available www.safeeggs.com for their cage-free pasteurized eggs. There are companies that do make organic pasteurized egg powder such as www.organiceggproducts.com but you’ll pay a pretty penny.
The Right Whey
Regarding the Whey Protein Isolate: this is the only form of whey I’ve been able to semi-tolerate. Jay Robbs’ is lactose and casein-free, uses non-GMO, non-soy lecithin as the only filler, and comes from rBGH-free cows. This still causes some bloating, but not nearly as bad as say Mercola’s grassfed whey protein concentrate (my dad is loving that one at the moment).
What I love most is the versatility of this drink. It’s similar to an eggnog in taste, an ideal post-workout or muscle-recovery drink, and a meal replacement with high fat and protein. Enjoy!
