(Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle)

All Protein Powders Are Not Created Equal

Bodybuilders, power lifters, and weightlifters have one thing in common. They all rely on lots of protein to build muscle tissue. Bodybuilders though require more protein than perhaps power lifters and weightlifters combined.

Go into any franchised health store such as GNC or Vitamin Shoppe and you'll find literally row upon row of protein powders. There are multiple numbers of manufacturers who produce not only different types of protein powders (soy and egg as well as milk), but a variety of flavors too.

And it seems that more than a few new manufacturers are hitting the market every month.

Back in the day when I began bodybuilding, I spent a fortune in weight gain powders (I was and still am a hard gainer) and protein powders. My bodybuilding career began in 1978 - 33 years ago.

In those days I also ate tons of tuna fish and eggs. After the original movie Rocky (1976) premiered in the theaters, and I went to see it, I started drinking raw eggs. I continue to drink raw eggs to this day.

Bodybuilding was new to me in the late 70s and early 80s, and I was on a learning curve. I knew protein was important for muscle growth and repair, but I didn't know anything about the various protein powders and how they were prepared for commercial distribution in stores.

I have since come to learn that not only is protein essential for muscle growth and repair, but the type of protein and how it is prepared is just as important.

Protein is damaged by heat. It is "denatured" by extensive cooking or when it is heated to very high temperatures.

Most commercial protein powders that are sold in GNC and Vitamin Shoppe are processed by heat. This process compromises the protein's health value and usefulness.

Since heat and typical "curing" methods destroy protein's structure, protein from hot dogs, smoked meats, lunch meats, bacon, breakfast sausage, pepperoni, lox, and soy are denatured. These foods are impotent and should not be a part of your dietary food list.

Commercial dairy products like milk, cheese, and most protein powders undergo pasteurization. Their protein is denatured too and should be avoided.

Look for protein powders that have been cold processed. This process ensures that the protein structure is not damaged.

Equally important is that the source of the protein should be from cows that have been organically-raised and grass-fed. Conventional milk and beef is sourced from factory-farmed cows.

The absolute best form of milk you can drink is raw milk. Although the FDA and mainstream media portray it as potentially dangerous, and seek to outlaw interstate sale, no study has ever found raw milk to be harmful to the health.

Stick with meat from grass fed animals like beef, buffalo and elk. Also, eat wild-caught fish, free-range chicken and turkey, and cage-free whole eggs. These are the purest forms of protein you can get, and have the most nutritional value.

As an all-natural bodybuilder, I eat 5 to 6 small meals a day. I typically drink a protein shake in between breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Eating 5 to 6 protein-rich meals is not just for bodybuilders like me; you can also put it in place in your diet plan for weight loss or if you are a week-end warrior.

Although you may have to pay more for organically-raised, grass-fed meat and cold-processed protein powder, you get the nutritional value you seek. Money is wasted on purchasing cheaper powders which don't give the nutritional value promised.

Here is a protein powder that I heartily recommend. It is sourced from organically-raised, grass-fed cows and it is cold processed.

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