Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Whey Protein: What we feel you should know

Summer is here! I’m sure for many of you that means trying to hit the gym, lower the daily calorie intake and of course reach for those expensive and often damaging workout supplements. Before doing so, check out this article published by Mercola.com (*More information about this site below):


Particularly as you age, your body gradually loses its ability to produce critical amino acids -- the essential proteins you need for energy production, immune actions and protein buildup in the muscle.
Therefore, the need to supplement with these amino acids increases as you get older and increases even more in times of high physical stress, like after a workout, or when recovering from injury or illness.
That's where whey protein comes in...
Whey protein contains all the essential amino acids*. Plus it boasts the highest protein quality rating among all proteins. Thus, it is a complete protein.
Whey protein is a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process. At one time it was discarded or used for animal feed, but researchers later realized whey protein has incredible benefits for humans.
High-quality whey protein can have dramatic effects. Benefits include:
*    Supports your immune health*
*    Boosts your energy*
*    Supports your joint and muscle health*
*    Supports your beneficial gut bacteria*
*    Promotes your muscle strength, endurance and recovery*
*    Protects all your tissues' cells via its antioxidant properties*
*    Provides critical amino acids and proteins for overall optimal health*
*    Supports your body's optimal metabolic rate and fat burning level*
You can quickly see why whey protein is so beneficial for anyone living an active lifestyle…. But, finding a protein powder that contains the right proteins, in the most effective blend, with the most nutritionally beneficial outcomes, AND actually tastes good can be a real challenge. Do you feel yourself often asking these questions:
*    What are all those random ingredients?
*    How do I know it contains the best proteins I really need?
*    Why does it contain so many artificial sweeteners?
*    How can I determine where the protein powder came from (e.g., are the cows grain fed or grass fed, hormonally treated or organic, and so on)?
*    What's the difference between heat and cold processing and how does it affect the protein powder?
*    Should I choose protein isolates or a concentrate?
*    Do I need to be concerned about heavy metal levels in the protein powder?
What's the most challenging part of finding a quality whey protein powder? Most brands out there don't actually give you answers to any of these questions.
Commercially-available whey protein powders are significantly damaged and nutritionally deficient due to over-processing and because the original source of the whey is compromised.
Plus, some popular leading brands of protein powder may contain dangerous levels of heavy metals. A recent Consumer Reports' test showed that 3 of the 15 protein drinks tested contained risky levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead.
9 Essentials to Look For in Your Whey Protein Powder
  1. All-natural, grass fed cows' whey, NOT pesticide-treated, grain-fed cows' whey
Compared to grain-fed cows, grass fed cows produce whey that:
    • Is nutritionally superior to grain fed
    • Contains an impressive amino acid and immuno-supportive nutrient profile
    • Is rich in healthy fats--lipolic acid and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)
  1.  
Hormone-free Cows, NOT hormonally-treated cows
Many American dairy farmers inject the hormone rBGH in dairy cows to increase milk production. This hormone has been linked to serious disease and illness, including cancer. Choose whey made from hormone-free cows.
  1. Cold processed, NOT heat processed
Most whey is heat processed which:
    • Makes the whey acidic and nutritionally deficient
    • Damages the immuno-supportive micronutrients and amino acids
    • Makes whey inadequate for consumption
Cold processed whey protects the nutrients in their natural state.
  1. Acid-free processing, NOT Acid / Ion Exchange Processing
Acid / Ion Exchange Processing is cheaper than acid-free processing, but it denatures the amino acid profiles by using acids and chemicals to separate the whey from the fats.
  1. Whey protein concentrate, NOT protein isolates
Protein isolates are proteins stripped away from their nutritional cofactors. There are three problems with that...
    • All isolates are exposed to acid processing.
    • Your body cannot assimilate proteins in isolated form.
    • Due to over-processing, isolates are deficient in key amino acids and nutritional cofactors.
  1. Sweetened naturally, NOT artificially, and low carb sweetener
Most whey products are artificially sweetened making them useless if you have sugar sensitivities, or just don't want to put artificial sweeteners or flavors into your body.
Your whey should be low glycemic, low carb and should not contain any artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohol, glycerin, fructose, sugar or gluten. Try natural sweeteners such as honey, agave nectar and sugar in the raw.
  1. Maximum biological value, NOT compromised or damaged
Most whey proteins provide some benefit. But, due to the ingredients, the source of the whey, the concentration of beneficial nutrients, or the type of processing, many whey products simply don't deliver what they promise.
You want whey that's guaranteed to retain its maximum biological value -- one with all the key amino acids, cofactors and beneficial micronutrients present and intact rather than compromised or damaged, and not missing any amino acids or essential nutrients.
  1. Easy to Digest, NOT Causing Digestive Stress
Many whey products contain long-chain fatty acids which are hard to digest and require bile acids to absorb.
You want a whey protein powder with medium chain triglycerides (MCT). These are easily absorbed, digested quickly, and utilized as energy without causing digestive stress.
Ideally, you want a product in which the MCT come from the best source of all -- coconut oil.
  1. Free from Toxic Heavy Metals or at Such Low Levels NOT to be a Health Risk

Dr. Halpern offers the Whey DreamProtein right from our office, no ordering necessary. This product not only offers all 20 Essential Amino Acids, but is less than 100 calories per serving, has 0g of fat, uses only natural sweeteners, is hormone free ( and comes from cows not given rBGH or BST hormones specifically), and follows the low glycemic guideline of many diets. Call us if you are interested, have any questions, or would like more information regarding our other products. Here at Northport Natural health our goal is to reach our community by educating its members to achieve optimal health through a wellness lifestyle.
631-757-3000


Dream Protein is Guaranteed Delicious or Your Money Back!
NO
• Sugar
• Fructose
• Aspartame
• Sucrose
• MSG
• Artificial Sweeteners
• Glutamates
• Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
• Soy
LOW
• Carbohydrate
• Fat
• Cholesterol
• Sodium
• Lactose
• Glycemic Index
 Dream Protein Supplement Facts   Dream Protein Supplement Facts Larger View
Mixing Instructions: As a dietary supplement, take one or more scoops daily to supply your diet with protein. Mix one level scoop with 6-8 ounces of water, milk or your favorite beverage.
The unique ingredients in Dream Protein may help to: 
• Boost Immune System
• Enhance Energy Levels
• Maintain Lean Body Mass
• Maintain Healthy Weight Management

Friday, June 14, 2013

Welcome to Northport Natural Health's new weekly blog! We are excited to be able to share the most up-to-date information on Chiropractic and nutritional care as well as keep you posted about our upcoming programs. We are also now located on Facebook under  "Northport Natural Health" and as always you can visit our website for more information, location, hours of service, and what you can expect from our office at: northportnaturalhealth.com. We are excited to be able to share our office, knowledge and care with you.
Get to know the Doc!
Dr. Davin Halpern is a licensed Chiropractor serving the Northport community.
He has been freeing people from pain in his clinic in Northport, NY. Dr. Halpern uses a "whole person" approach to health and is committed to promoting the health and well being of his patients.  This approach to wellness means looking for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruption (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments that would optimize the conditions for normal function. Using this unique approach, Dr. Halpern is able to help you to accelerate and/or maintain your journey to good health.

Call us if you have any questions, comments,concerns, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, our number is: 631-757-3000
Address: 842 Fort Salonga rd (25a)
               Northport NY 11768