Whey To Go!

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 an Electronic Design Automation trade show and he 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. Daryl had been researching foods to help her mother and she found that whey protein had many attributes that she would benefit from; "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." 

The three pie charts on the left are included as part of the definition from the Whey Protein Institute. I find them to be very helpful to understand where whey comes from.    

Whey Protein has many positive attributes that contribute to good heath. These include: 
Physical Performance, Weight Management, 
Cardiovascular Health, Cancer, Diabetes, 
Infant Nutrition, Healthy Aging, and Wound Care. All of these topics are addressed in full in an article, Benefits of Whey Proteins. The site also includes an extensive list of references on each topic should you wish to delve in further.

Over the years, I have tried a variety of whey protein products; Jay Robbs is my favorite. 

Single Serving Packet

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. These packets 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. I have used their Superfood as my mixing agent many times. Some airports even have a  Jamba Juice  bar. I have had whey protein powder added to my smoothie, usually a Jamba Light.

When at home, I make a fresh berry smoothie most days for breakfast, especially when I am "up with the sun and on the run;" 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 a handy Tuperware Quick Shaker Container; 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. 

Whether you are dieting, exercising, maintaining and improving your health, or just 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 meals and enjoy this powerful protein. It is the whey to go!