When you think of whey protein you tend to think of body builders and people looking to “bulk up”. The idea of drinking down 50 grams of protein shakes a day does not bring up images of people looking to lose weight.
New Study Shows Whey Protein May Help Overweight People
A new study done by Associate Professor Sebely Pal and colleagues from Curtin University and funded by Dairy Australia, evaluated the effects of whey protein supplementation on a number of health risk factors in a group of overweight or obese adults. What they found was that whey protein improved a number of health risk factors in overweight or obese adults.
“The subjects – 70 overweight or obese men and women – were randomly allocated to replace a portion of their normal diet with whey protein, casein or glucose for 12 weeks.
After the 12 weeks, the researchers found that the whey protein group showed improvements in their cholesterol levels, insulin levels, blood pressure and artery stiffness.”
- Dairy Australia Study – May 10, 2010
Is Dairy Australia Really An Objective Source?
We are with you – we had the same reaction when we read the story, however, the study looks like it is for real. The study is set to be published in two peer-reviewed journals – Obesity and the British Journal of Nutrition. Yes, it was only done with 70 subjects, but it does show that whey protein has more health benefits then we may have imagined.
Whey Protein – Not Just For Body Builders Any More
Is Whey Protein really some diet miracle – no. The study does not show people lost weight when using whey protein, but it did show that overweight and obese people who consume whey protein have less health issues. It does seem that if you are looking to lose weight the idea of replacing a high calorie meal with a good whey protein shake can help you shed some pounds and reduce some of the health risks associated with being overweight.
On May 5th, 2010 GlaxoSmithKline, makers of a pharmaceutical drug called SRT501 (which is based on resveratrol) announced they were halting their study on cancer patients due to possible kidney problems. The media, who is always quick to build something up and then smash it down (much like a 4 year old playing with blocks), jumped all over the story…
Is the Bloom Off the Resveratrol Rose?
That is the headline from the Wall Street Journal Health Blog Post on 5/5/2010. Nobody loves a good headline more than us – but come on – resveratrol comes from grapes, not roses, it doesn’t bloom… let’s not mix metaphors. Grapes are crushed into wine – go with something clever like “Resveratrol Benefits CRUSHED by New Study?” Sorry, back to the facts…
What Exactly is SRT501?
SRT501 is a proprietary drug being developed and tested by GlaxoSmithKline. SRT501 is based on the reseveratrol antioxidant that is found in red grapes – but SRT501 is NOT the same thing as natural resveratrol. SRT501 is a proprietary chemical developed in the lab by a pharmaceutical company.
When Exactly Will We Stop Trying to Improve on Mother Nature?
Red grapes, muscadine grapes, red wine – these are all natural things that have been shown in study after study to have strong health benefits. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring substance that is found in grapes and red wine, but it is just one of hundreds of healthy nutrients found in grapes. Most of us understand that if we eat and drink natural things that are filled with the healthy polyphenols found in grapes – we will feel better. Why reinvent the wheel? Why try to one-up Mother Nature? Why take something natural and turn it into a chemical drug?
So is SRT501 Dangerous?
Who knows? The kidney issues that were showing up in the study are not an uncommon problem among people with multiple myeloma, the disease that the study subjects had. It may turn out that SRT501 had nothing to do with the kidney issues. It may turn out that SRT501 did cause the problems. In either case, the study really does not talk to the health benefits or risks of eating NATURAL resveratrol rich foods or supplements.
Want the Truth on Resveratrol – Just Read the Wall Street Journal
The WSJ and their bloggers have no problems telling you what they think about resveratrol. The only problem is depending on who is writing the story you will get a complete different spin on resveratrol.
The May 5th Wall Street Journal Health Blog Post – “Is The Bloom Off the Resveratrol Rose” gives a negative view on resveratrol. In addition to discussing the negative implications of the study they go on to say -
“This comes on the heels of a research controversy about whether resveratrol and other substances thought to activate SIRT1 actually do so. Here’s a New Scientist article on the topic.”
Clearly gives the impression that all the recent studies on resveratrol have been negative. However, less than 1 week earlier – the very same WSJ had this to say -
“Research from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore found that there could be even more health benefits from drinking red wine. Antioxidant-rich red wine has already been touted to protect against cancer, heart disease, high cholesterol and obesity. Now resveratrol, an compound found in red wine, may reduce the risk of stroke. “Resveratrol can potentially build brain resistance to ischemic stroke,” the study said.”
- Wall Street Journal Blogs On Wine – 4/29/2010
Maybe if the WSJ Health Blogger read the WSJ On Wine Blog she would know that not all the recent research on Resveratrol has been negative.
Our Advice – K.I.N.S
We have all heard of K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid) – well we have come up with a new one – K.I.N.S – Keep It Natural Stupid! When drug companies try to take natural foods and turn them into drugs, things always seem to go wrong. Let’s stop trying to perfect Mother Nature. Eat grapes, drink red wine and enjoy whole foods. Do supplements make sense? Sure, if they are all natural whole food supplements. Things like Perfect ResGrape work because they contain all the nutrients from muscadine grapes – they just take what Mother Nature has made and put it in a jar – they Keep It Natural Stupid.
On the other hand, supplements that try to modify and one-up ingredients that Mother Nature has given us should be avoided in our opinion. We really tend to over complicate things, if we all ate more natural and healthy food, we would all feel better.
It turns out Whole Foods must have a soft spot for whales, seals and penguins – as they have decided these animals deserve to eat their Krill! Yes, seals and penguins are cute animals we can all connect with – those tiny, creepy shrimp like Krill – not so much.
Omega 3’s Good – Penguins and Seals Dying So We Can Eat Omega 3’s – Not Good
If you are reading this blog it is probably safe to assume you already know all about the positive health benefits from Omega 3 Fatty acids. Omega 3’s can come from fish oils and they also come from Krill. Krill are tiny little shrimp like animals that sit way down on the food chain.
Manufacturers in recent years have started to make Omega 3 supplements using Krill. The advantage is that Krill does not have the mercury contamination issue that you can have when using fish for Omega 3 supplements. In fact, Krill Supplements have become so popular that the krill population is being depleted. As whales, penguins and seals basically survive by eating krill, there is a belief that Krill supplements are starting to hurt the whale, penguin and seal populations by drying up their food supply.
Whole Foods Bans Krill Oil Supplements
Whole Foods has decided to take action to protect the whales, penguins and seals of the world…
“Krill are an important source of food for marine animals including penguins, seals, and whales in the Antarctic. Declines of some predator populations in the areas where the krill fishery operates suggest that fishery management needs to better understand how to evaluate the prey requirements of other marine species in order to set sustainable catch levels for krill.
Consequently, at present we are choosing to discontinue the sale of krill supplements as we continue to evaluate this emerging research. Please consider alternatives to krill oil supplements such as fish oil or astaxanthin supplements.”
-Whole Foods Statement
In The Least Surprising Move of the Day – Krill Industry Denies There Is A Problem
Guess who disagrees with Whole Foods? That’s right, companies that make Krill Supplements. The industry points out that some Krill supplements are made with farmed Krill – so this has no impact on the food chain for other animals. Others in the industry argue that Krill is harvested in a sustainable matter and is not having a negative impact.
We are not sure how this will play out, perhaps Whole Foods is using its leverage to get more accountability for how Krill is harvested and to make sure it is done in a responsible and sustainable way. If this is the case we say… way to go Whole Foods!
Krill Say – “Looks Like a Lose Lose For Us. We die either way!”
It must suck to be a Krill! Whole Foods cares about penguins, seals and whales – but what about the Krill? Let’s see, the supplement industry wants to kill Krill to make supplements. Whole Foods says – don’t kill the Krill… let the penguins, seals and whales kill them! I guess that is life (a very short life) on the bottom of the food chain.
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