posted 01-14-2003 10:45 PM            

Currently I am on a low carbohydrate diet, and I have just started taking protein shakes. I ran over to muscle mag and purchased a Designer Whey Strawberry flavoured protein supplement powder jug. However, because I am on a low carb diet, I must refrain from milk, and this is where it tastes horrible! It's too thin when i mix it with water (also hard to mix properly).

Can someone recommend something i can mix this strawberry supplment with that will make it taste good with water (or any liquid that is low in carbs, ie coffee with splenda). If not, lemme know if theres any low carb recipes for the choclate make, cus then i can just exchange this with choclate. Thanks!

posted 01-14-2003 11:37 PM            

Usually when you are mixing a power with a liquid if you use a hot (almost/or boiling works best) the powder will mix up better.

You could make it up a head of time and then chill it in the frige and drink it later when it is cold.

posted 01-15-2003 10:01 AM            

Try a low carb protein powder such as Isopure or Lean Body. I think EAS makes a low-carb version as well. If you read the label of the protein powder you're using, you'll see it probably has a good deal of carbs in it as it is. Many suggest mixing with milk or juice for texture, taste, and also because (depending on WHY you're using this powder) - after a workout you WANT a blend of carb and protein and the juice helps facilitate refueling.

If you're using a mix for a meal replacement, they do make specific low-carb products for that as well (the formulation for meal replacement is very different than that for supplementation).

It depends on how low you really want to go when it comes to low carbs....just what YOUR definition of "low" is and how many grams you're willing to take in per meal/drink.

Isopure can be mixed with just a shaker, and you only add water to it, - you don't need a blender, ice, etc. It comes in vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry (the ZERO CARB formula, that is). They make a DOZEN other flavors however, some that can be bought pre-bottled (the grape is good), some that can be bought in pre-measured packages. The benefit to vanilla flavored anything is that you can change the flavor each time you want to.

Cocoa powder (not the kind that has chocolate powder in it but the pure baking cocoa powder) has no carbs that affect your blood sugar and you can flavor it this way. You can use extracts, such as vanilla, rum, pineapple, root beer, orange, lemon, anise, mint, etc.... and you can mix these up to create any number of flavors.

Adding a PURE 100% protein, such as soy (which usually has less of a carb impact) to your mix may add some calories but will have minimal impact on blood sugar, but will add a thickness to it. I used to add non-fat powdered milk to thicken mine up but the labels (once I read them more thoroughly) are pretty high in carbs, but a few tablespoons can make a difference.

Adding some thickening agents like amaranth can help (just a small amount).

There are two sweetning agents that are safe to use that have no impact on your blood sugar levels. Those are Splenda and Stevia. Stevia can be a little more bitter, and Splenda can be easier to measure. But both are safe.

While you cannot add juices, concentrates, or mixes, you CAN add fresh lemon or lime juice directly (a little goes a long way).

If you use a blender, add lots of ice and make it like a smoothie/ice cream float.

Depending on your carb limit, a FEW pieces of FROZEN fruit (not fresh or canned) will add minimal carbs but LOADS of flavor!

Some possible flavors that can be obtained just by using extracts and/or cocoa powder that I have tried myself and like are:

1) orange creamsicle
2) chocolate (add a little vanilla extract)
mocha (add a few teaspoons of instant coffee crystals, and even sprinkle some cinnamon and a teeny bit of nutmeg for a capuccino flavored mix)
3) strawberry daquiri (even if you add 2-3 FROZEN strawberries)
4) chocolate-banana (using only 1/4 frozen banana)
5) chocolate-mint
6) rootbeer float (rootbeer extract)
7) cola-float (use cola extract)
8) banana (using extract)
9) strawberry-banana (use ONE frozen fruit, ONE extract)
10) strawberry-lemonade/limeade
11) berry-blast
12) licorice (vanilla with anise)
13) raspberry-licorice (frozen raspberries with anise extract)
14) pina-colada (3 pieces of frozen pineapple with coconut extract)
15) "almond joy" - cocoa, coconut extract, almond extract
16) hazelnut

PS: If you read the label on a can of WHIPPED CREAM (regular or chocolate flavored) and you'll see that there's almost no calories, fat or carbs in it, and a little bit can add a nice flavor. (The fear of whipped cream is only applicable if you try to eat the whole can of it straight as a snack).

Check out either the Atkins site, or the netrition site or the diabetic section of your regular grocery store for low/no sugar syrups (you can get zero carb syrups in hazelnut, vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, etc., and these can add sweetness AND flavor and a little goes a long way)

....the list goes on. Extracts add no carbs and have no impact on blood sugar. To combat some of the potential bitterness that you may get, you can add Splenda to taste, or a SMALL amount of frozen berries or fruit (again, we're talking like 2-3 small pieces just to flavor and crush up). Either way you look at it, doing it this way with a low or zero carb protein mix, you STILL end up with LESS carbs than you would by using a "regular" protein powder and THEN worrying about carbs.

Another possibility is UNSWEETENED SOY MILK. Trust me, you'll never notice -- my Husband drinks it (and he is NOT a "soy person" by any stretch). I'd stay way away from dairy, - but even if you add regular soy milk for some thickness, you'd be amazed at how many carbs are IN that stuff, in part naturally, but also because it is intentionally sweetened, usually with a cane sugar,... but if you can find totally UNSWEETENED soy milk and add that (or mix half of this with half water) -- you'll get a creamier shake without the carb worry.

I have found ONLY ONE brand of soymilk that is made 100% UNSWEETENED, and it is:

Vitasoy
Creamy Unsweetened organic natural soy drink
80 calories in 8 ounces
4 grams of fat
5 grams of carb (which is about 1/3 to 1/4 that of regular)
1 gram of sugar
6 grams of protein

And for real, this stuff tastes incredible. Mixed, and you'd never notice.