Brand/Type of protein, no (artifical) sweeteners, and...

[gdawg0987]

Originally Posted by IronMan

Do have a link to backup on this statement?

Sure.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...rotein+factory

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...n+factory+feed

The first link is to a thread where it was confirmed that protein factory's store is located in the back of an animal feed supply store. No one is upset with the fact that it is connected to a feed supply store; the thing that upset people was the fact that the owner denied this and continued to make excuses even after someone went down there and filmed a video of the store.

The second link is the response that the company made regarding the accusations, but they seemed to make matters only worse by making more claims they couldn't prove. While some of the people posted childish comments that probably did nothing but make matters worse, the company acted very unproffessional also, IMO.

It took me countless hours over two days to read the two threads and all of their sidebars. Too much hostility, anger, and frustration to really find the truth of the matter. What I did take away from reading the threads:

• Discussion boards should never let advertisers post in threads. It makes it too easy for sleazy claims to be made. And PF is no different than any other company in that regard. Look through the pages of any muscle magazine (Bodybuilder gains 50 pounds of muscle in 42 days!).
• Steve, at the outset, tried to expain that the manufacturing process was FDA approved but the board members kept insisting that he was claiming FDA approval for the supps. FDA logo is still on the web site. FDA has enough juice to close the operation down for improper use. It appears to be a non argument.
• bad4ego tried to bring some reasonableness to the thread and he was hooted out of it. That is a crying shame, IMO. The mob rules......
• Sharing an IP addy does not automatically make the posters the same people. Its a technical thing I really don't pretend to understand.
• Protein Factory isn't the only place to have its products test low back in 2002. There was a supplement review guide in publication around that time and many legitimate companies had their products test lower than label claims. One bad test does not a cheater make. Or it could mean the whole industry is sleazy. More testing, would have been nice, but it was never done.
• It would be in the consumers best interest to ask any company for proof of label claims. Not sure if the company is obigated to show it however.

[gdawg0987]

I agree with you completely IronMan.

I'm not saying their protein is low quality or suspect, I just got turned off of the company by how they handled the situation in general. I just feel more confident in other companies like all the whey who seem to act more proffessional. This doesn't mean their products are better/worse in any way though. Just my personal feelings.

About your last comment on companies showing proof of their label claims. It's not mandatory by companies to do so, but it is very comforting since there have been many cases of products being underdosed in the past in the supplement industry. That's one of the reasons I reccomended all the whey; they have certificates of analysis on their website, and their customer service has always went out of their way in the past to answer my questions/concerns.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by Lady C

I use All-The-Whey's isolate. I am lactose intolerant and I cannot stomach most whey concentrates OR bars (similar stomach issues you've described). I have had no issues with this isolate for several years.

I have tried the egg protein but it is tough to make it taste good. I used to use only soy until I could find a whey that I could stomach.

I went to their site. Do they only sell one "form" of isolate? (I see various flavors, blends, etc.) It seems like they have a very comprehensive list of proteins (and supplements).

I had already placed my order with the PF after talking to Iron Man -- if their product is anything like their attention to detail, I'll be quite impressed. I ordered two products, both blends (none of which contain concentrate,-- making my stomach and intestines both very grateful for that).

I'm still trying to figure out what exactly I'm reacting to. I already KNOW about the various sugars and sugar substitutes I'm sensitive to. I don't know about maltodextrin though for PWO's. (I like the idea that it is not sweet). I dislike sweet anything (making me a freak of nature I realize), but I've been known to enjoy (all you cardboard-eater lovers would relate),.....plain protein shakes....(if they're comprehensive). Non-sweetened from any source, internal or external.

My Husband thinks I'm whacked. But we'll see how the PF does, - I'm due for delivery this week and eager to try it.

That doesn't rule out my interest in All The Whey. Lady C, where/how do you get yours?

[Lady C]

I think they sell only one kind of isolate but they also have an isopure (more $$). We are actually buying Vanilla flavored like this. I am fine with the sucralose. We have not tried the unflavored that they sell. If you buy some let us know how it tastes (cardboard?).

We buy it directly from All-the-Whey. Maybe you can get it cheaper somewhere else but we have worked out a 'deal' with them we are happy with.

[Merrida]

Okay, this may be directed a bit more towards IronMan because he has experience with these proteins. I ordered Penta Pro for my "every day" protein, I mix it in with my breakfast, cereals, eggs, or make a paste with flax seed oil, cocoa, and some malto, and use it for "protein balls" - mixed with peanut butter, protein, cocoa, water, and dry, uncooked irish oats....they make little "cookie" type things -- nice to nibble on between clients to get a boost.

Blah, blah, blah,....the point of THIS post is: explosive diarrhea? Now there are several factors here. I've been using the Penta for 3 days now (the PF deliver FAST, even via ground! Exceptional service!) But the context has been using it within my food preps. Last night I made a night-time shake and while Penta itself may not optimal for a night shake, it had a good enough blend of slow release proteins too, to make it worth a shot,

I was up allll niiighttt loonnnnng with stomach cramps that seemed relentless and if that wasn't enough, I made enough trips to the little powder room to keep me alert.

Usually I only get that type of reaction from some artificial sweeteners (the ones that don't give me headaches).

Opinions or thoughts? Note: My shake was plain with just pure cocoa added and water and ice. Nothing was added. (I enjoy the taste of bland foods). It may have been the cocoa. It may have been PENTA isn't good for night. It was my first time using it as a shake.

I also have Big Blast for weight gain. The ingredients are a nice blend, and that's what I'm planning on bringing with me to work when I do w/o's between clients for my PWO,....BB is for PWO so I should be okay. But now I'm not sure I can use Penta as a backup if need be?

Anyone, especially IronMan, have any thoughts here on what's up?

[Lady C]

Merrida - I cannot eat casein of any type or I see the same results as you are experiencing. What is in your blend?

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by Lady C

Merrida - I cannot eat casein of any type or I see the same results as you are experiencing. What is in your blend?

The blend has 20% casein. I was really hoping that was not going to be a factor. My queries about whey in general (am I having problems with dairy?) or is it the fact that the wheys I've used have all had this variety of artificial sweeteners that have given me bad reactions.

I used it as a night shake because of the casein being slow release.

The confusing part to me though is that I've been using this blend for three days with NO ill effects of any kind (intestinal or otherwise), as I mix it in with foods and other blends. This was just the first time I ever used it purely in shake form.

It also occured to me, that last night we had a formal dinner and some of I ate may very well have had whole dairy in it,...(and maybe that's a factor?) I hadn't included that.

If I am indeed having a reaction to the casein, wouldn't I have demonstrated the same symptoms before now?

[Lady C]

Originally Posted by Merrida

If I am indeed having a reaction to the casein, wouldn't I have demonstrated the same symptoms before now?

Definitely YES. I suspect it is something else if you have not been bothered by casein before.

I get the same reactions to deep fried "anything" especially donuts or french fries, high sugar content like ice cream or cakes, and rich foods with lots of whole cream (cheesecakes).

[Merrida]

Me too! I figured it's the fat content, in particular dairy fat, but other fats as well. I hate ice cream and donuts, so I never even "crave" these types of junk foods. I definitely can't do fried (or very much of it, so if I do, it's a nibble here or there). My stomach doesn't even like yogurt. And I'm not a dairy fan enough to bother with stuff like lactaid so I can eat dairy.

I figured that not eating "whole dairy" -- I should be okay.

But that was my confusion about last night. The variables, and the constants. Either way, I had the most restless night ever. I don't remember getting symptoms quite that violent before......yet I also don't enjoy dairy, so it could very well have been the dinner, not the whey blend.

Another nasty to my body: butter. In moderation, teensy bits, maybe. But if I'm not careful, I get the reverse response. Is it the dairy or the grease?

[Lady C]

It could be both the dairy and the grease. I have IBS as well, and both fat and dairy will trigger an attack. I can eat buttermilk, yogurt and cottage cheese because they have live cultures that are great for digestion.

A twice baked potato with lots of butter and sour cream is a great example of a trigger food for me.

You need to retrace your eating yesterday. It is important to determine what triggered your reaction. Make a list and try each item one at a time until you can pinpoint the culprite. It could also be a combination of foods.

[Merrida]

Lady C, that's what I'm going to do. My diet rarely changes (which may be one factor). I tend to have a rather regimental routine that I follow, which makes my introduction of "new foods" rare. That alone can be enough I'd suppose, to trigger an attack, if my body is accustomed to certain foods, at certain times, and any breaks in the chain (by elimination or addition), are possible culprits.

It didn't occur to me really until I read some more of your posts to look at the food aspect, not just trying to assume it could have been the protein.

Lady C, question for you: If you DO eat a food that is going to trigger an attack, do you get PRE-symptoms, or some kind of signals that "uh oh, this isn't going to be good?" If so, how soon after you eat the food do you get the PRE-symptoms.

Likewise, if you don't get any warning and you just get the symptoms, how soon after you ingest those foods does your body demonstrate those negative reactions? I'd like to compare time frames. Thanks!

[Lady C]

Pre-symptoms for me are intense gas pains followed by the urge to go to the bathroom. These pains can be mild to full body sweats. The time frame can be 10 minutes from ingestion to several hours or overnight. The "uh oh, this isn't going to be good" feeling is usually when you are not close to a bathroom. The build up of the pain until you can reach a bathroom can be intense. I ALWAYS carry tums and will eat a whole roll, if necessary, until I can get to a bathroom.

When I have a bad attack it will continue for days EVERY time I eat. No matter what I eat, even if it is a safe food item. This causes me not to want to eat, which is worse. Letting the stomach acids build up makes it worse. When it gets this bad I stick with high fiber mild foods (salads or oats) and some yogurt for the good bacteria. It is also triggered by high stress situations. Job loss or stress, marriage or family issues, or maybe worrying about money or something.

I know my trigger foods, so it is easy to track. It is also my own fault if I indulge in a forbidden food and pay for it later [cheesecake is my favorite.] Google IBS and read what typical kinds of foods trigger an attack. Mine are sometimes coffee and alcohol but always high fat foods, high sugar foods, deep fried foods, most milk based dressings, mayo, alfredo sauces, clam chower or country gravy, etc.

[Merrida]

Okay, you've mentioned almost every applicable "thing" that has been in my life or brought more to my awareness over the past 4 years. Before that, either I handled things differently physically and emotionally,...or my body changed in ways that made even eating the "safe foods" or foods I "thought" were safe before, no longer always an option.

That was the confusing part for me because what I could ingest (in terms of food or protein supplementation) seemed to be more diverse. But over the years, I seem to "react" now,...to all those things,...quite differently.

You bring up good points though, and it serves to remind that without trying to keep a dedicated log, there are too many factors that could contribute (even if they don't directly cause) these types of reactions in my system.

Silly me,...here I was hoping for a simple answer.

[Lady C]

Good Luck!!