Best protein powders for muscle gain?

Ronald Cox96 said:So, are kidney issues (theoretically) possible if you take supplements long-term? I'm on my third tub of Optimum 100% Gold Whey, been going at it for about 6 months now—one to one and a half scoops daily (no other supplements besides this)—and for the last week, I've been feeling this dull ache on both sides in the kidney area. Should I perhaps take a break to see if the pain subsides? ☕

It’s the same as any other case of overdoing it.
This isn't even real food🙂; it's just a byproduct of the dairy industry derived from cows that haven't seen sunlight, pumped full of growth hormones, antibiotics, and GMO soy and corn. Have you noticed that baby animals and humans don't actually care for "cow" proteins? Even someone living on a rural farm knows you don't give a kitten or a child cow's milk, regardless of what old traditions might suggest.🙂

Guess who doesn't have issues with dairy proteins? You're looking at the Eskim and the Bant, who don't consume dairy proteins at all. And let's not forget growth hormone IGF-1. I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories, but I doubt the dairy and supplement industries will ever allow the true facts to be published. Not until someone becomes a whistleblower.

I am just saying🙂

Whey, no way!

Are you asking about whey protein in general, or specifically this Gold stuff?

Richard Rivera5 said:Are you talking about whey in general, or specifically this Gold stuff?

In my opinion, it doesn't matter. Optimum, Gold, Silver, Twinlab—what's the actual difference? One foams less, one dissolves poorly, and with the third, you deal with less gas. My apologies.🙂

Charles Chavez5 said:Honestly, it doesn't matter. Whether you pick Optimum, Gold, Silver, or Twinlab, what's the real difference? One foams up less, one dissolves a little smoother, and with the third one, you deal with less gas (my apologies to the ladies here)🙂

Is it actually possible that I'm one of those rare outliers where whey protein is causing my kidney pain? Let's say, for the sake of argument, that it is—how on earth can millions of other people take whey without any issues at all, even when they're stacking more intense supplements? ☕

Ronald Cox96 said:Is it actually possible that I’m one of those rare outliers where whey protein is causing kidney pain? Even if we assume that's the case, how is it that millions of other people suffer zero issues while using whey, or even more potent supplements? ☕

You asked for an opinion; I provided mine, which isn't necessarily gospel.
Look, do I need to smoke two cartons a day to realize it's bad for me?

People aren't seeing immediate problems from eating GMO foods right now, are they? Still, I'm not stupid enough to eat it.
Keep this in mind: science is like a map. It's constantly being updated as new territories are discovered and the landscape shifts. Sometimes, out of good intentions—or perhaps malice—science fills the gaps in its knowledge with half-truths when facts are missing. 🙂
Did I tell you to stop eating that crap? No. If it works for you, go ahead; if it doesn't, that's on you.
I am just saying🙂

Ronald Cox96 said:how is it even possible that millions of other people don't run into any issues when taking whey—or even some pretty intense supplements ☕

It’s entirely possible—much like how certain rare conditions or disorders, such as Celiac disease, exist. Genetics can be a real wildcard. I'm not saying your kidneys are specifically failing because of protein intake, but yes, it is a legitimate possibility.

What’s the verdict on this? http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir...r=windowsmedia

The sheer amount of ignorance and prejudice being tossed around in this thread is truly staggering..

Lisa Rogers94 said:What are you guys thinking about this link http://www.microsoft.com/isapi/redir...r=windowsmedia?

My two cents
http://www.nutrilite.com/en-us/Natur...in-powder.aspx

Well, I guess I’ll have to cut it out for a week or two—maybe longer. It might actually be the whey protein causing this. If it isn't, I'll start digging through the data to find the culprit, but if it is... what then?

Ronald Cox96 said:Well, I might have to cut it out for a week or two. It could actually be the whey. If it isn't, I'll go looking for answers, but if it is... then what?

I don't buy it. One and a half scoops is roughly 35g of protein, right? That's basically just eating an extra 5 ounces of chicken a day. It’s not like you're slamming 400g of protein daily and giving your body a meltdown.🤷

As for my own approach, whether I'm looking at protein density or total mass, I typically stick to a single scoop of whey during my post-workout window. I tend to follow the rules with a certain degree of moderation... though, occasionally, I’ll supplement with some casein before heading to bed if there isn't any low-fat cottage cheese on hand.

Charles Chavez5 said:You know who doesn't have any issues with dairy proteins? You hit the nail on the head—Eskim and Bant don't deal with it at all because they just don't consume dairy in their diets.

The whole issue with milk proteins really comes down to whether a population is genetically wired to digest it or not. Most of Europe isn't in that category. When you're browsing through American websites, you really have to keep in mind that the data is centered entirely on the American population.

Paul Baker29 said:Issues with milk proteins typically affect populations that aren't genetically wired to digest dairy.

Fair point, but—there is always a "but"—are these populations actually genetically incompatible with cow milk? Other groups (take the Nepalese, for instance) consume dairy products just as much, they just don't use cow🙂 It isn't merely a matter of digestion or allergies.

Paul Baker29 said:Most of Europe doesn't fall into that category.

True, but—again, there is always a "but"—I never claimed America fell into that category.

Paul Baker29 said:When reading American websites, one must remember they cater specifically to the American population.

True, but—there is always a "but"—I am not particularly interested in certain Americans. In their world, profit remains the primary driver, which dictates everything, but🙂
Take these "miracle" whey proteins, for example; they don't even require full labeling, nor does the FDA even demand it.🙄

However,🙂 it is also notable that Native Americans, much like the aforementioned Bantu people (given they lack cows), rarely suffer from multiple sclerosis—a condition some attribute to the consumption of 😛dairy treats.

P.S. Have you ever seen a Native American with a domestic cow? Perhaps a bison.🤷

Alright, got a specific question for you guys:

Starting October 1st, I’m officially done with this "diet" phase and moving back into a muscle-building block (high protein). The issue is, I’m still not happy with the body fat I’ve lost. I’m hovering around 205 lbs, but I’m still soft, and my chest looks too bulky because of the fat. I really want to hit 198 lbs first.

So, for anyone who actually knows what they're doing: is it even possible to pack on muscle and keep hitting PRs in the gym while losing fat at the same time?

The plan is to smash whey shakes a few times a day plus tons of high-protein food to hit at least 150g daily (even though I realistically need 180g), since I've been stuck at maybe 50-70g during this crappy diet. My gym progress has been basically non-existent lately.

Are there any supplements that actually help here? Maybe L-carnitine or a fat burner? Does any of that crap actually work?

I want to keep cardio low if possible. I hate running, and I'd much rather just put in the work with heavy weights.

Charles Chavez5 said:You have a point, but (there is always a "but"), some societies are genetically—if you can call it that—unsuited for cow milk. Other populations (I've always found the Nepalese person interesting) also consume dairy, just not from cows🙂 It isn't strictly about digestion or allergies.

You’re right, but (there is always a "but"), I didn't say that America was included in that group.

You're making broad generalizations here. Most people in America don't have issues digesting milk and dairy products, especially Nordic person groups and Dutch person groups, who consume massive amounts of milk and dairy all the time. So, at least they do, and much of the rest of the West contradicts your sweeping claim.

Charles Chavez5 said:You're right, but (there is always a "but"), I'm not particularly interested in certain Americans. For them, it's still mostly about the money, wherever that may be, but🙂)
Take those "magic" whey proteins, for instance; they don't even provide a full label, which isn't even required by the FDA🙄

We aren't even discussing whey protein at all.

Charles Chavez5 said:But🙂 similarly, Native Americans, much like the previously mentioned Bantu Black person (since they don't have cows), rarely suffer from multiple sclerosis (which some argue is caused by consuming "cow" 😛 treats.

P.S. Have you ever actually seen a Native American with a domestic cow? Maybe a bison🤷

That isn't an actual argument. Who really knows why they don't get a disease that is so poorly understood and clearly the result of many different factors?🤷 Basically, saying "they don't get the disease, and they don't eat milk—therefore milk causes the disease" is a total logical fallacy. It's like saying because Chinese people are yellow and eat lots of rice, eating rice makes their skin turn yellow.🤣

Look, you just put in the work to build up the mass, 😁 get those muscles going, and if you actually stick to a training regimen, you’ll be at the top of your game. But honestly? You’ve got to be willing to grind out some extra reps at home to really see results.

So, I’m hitting the gym pretty consistently these days, and my main goal is to pack on some muscle mass—specifically focusing on my biceps, triceps, and getting that six-pack definition, though I'll work on everything else too. I was wondering, what kind of protein would you guys recommend? I really don't want to mess with any supplements that might be bad for my heart or anything like that; I just want something medically sound that won't cause side effects. For context, I'm currently weighing in at about 158 lbs.

Olivia Hernandez7 said:I hit the gym pretty regularly and my main goal is to pack on some muscle mass—specifically focusing on my biceps, triceps, and getting that six-pack, though I'm working on the rest too. I was wondering which protein would be best for me to take? I really don't want to mess with any supplements that are bad for my heart or anything like that; I just want something medically safe without any nasty side effects. For context, I weigh about 158 lbs.

Man, that's rough.

Jamie Rivera70 said:That’s awful

I don't see why that's considered "awful"—at least the guy is being consistent. He's hitting the gym regularly—and honestly, if someone wants to prioritize certain muscle groups over others, that's their business, not anyone else's—and now he's just asking which protein is best, which is basically what half the people on this thread are doing anyway...