whey

Question
Is whey a good source of protein for a swimmer? I am swimming 800 meters (1/2 mile) a day,an will i benefit from it.I am going to try to get time for a weight lifting program. Thank you much J.B.

Answer
Hi John,

Whey protein is the isolated source of protein from cow's milk.

Whatever protein you have in your diet, it all breaks down to a combination of amino acids. Actually the best (most complete) source of the essential amino acids is found in egg white.

There is no need to supplement protein in your diet if you already enjoy a good balance of starches, vegetables, lean meats and dairy products. Depending on your weight, most people only need about 1/2 gram of protein per pound: this means about 70 grams of protein for a 150# man...and each ounce of meat has about 7 grams. So having 3 oz meat (fish, chicken, etc) twice a day will get you 42 grams, and each glass of milk or ounce of cheese will get you another 8 grams. Fill in some starches and veggies that provide 2 to 3 grams per serving and you'll quickly be meeting your needs.

Body builders may need more protein to build muscle, but the body is only capable of building so much--for instance, to put on a full pound of muscle in a week (which would take some serious working out) you would only need an extra 10-20 grams of protein per day!

My advice is, don't worry about taking supplementary protein--just keep eating good sources in your diet. Getting too much protein (for example, 200 grams per day) can cause kidney damage over time, and in the short run, you'll end up using parts of the protein for calories and end up gaining unwanted weight!

1. Prev:Constipation Even with Taking  A Supplement
2. Next:TREADMILL EXERCISE