Pure Pro 50 *Review*

I'm coming to you today with another rave review, this time regarding a pre-packaged protein shake that really impressed me.  This weekend I spent two days in the gym with my coach, working high volume days with pretty heavy loads.  I'd say I worked out for a total of 6-8 hours over those three sessions, and boy was my entire body feeling it after just the first one.  I was spending the night in the gym, and was going to be completely on my own for breakfast.  I knew I needed something protein packed as soon as I woke up to feed my muscles quickly after the crazy double session the previous day, and therefore that night I ran out to the local Rite-Aid and picked out the first protein shake I saw on the shelf.  After taking a quick glance at the nutritional label, I knew I'd come upon something very special.  This product not only has great macros, but tastes fantastic and works like a charm.  Its name?  Pure Pro 50 by ABB.

That next morning, as soon as I woke up, a sore and tired mess, I immediately cracked open this shake and prepared to chug it down (just in case it didn't taste so hot, as some canned shakes can be disgusting.)  But as soon as the first drop glanced across my tongue, I immediately threw all intentions of chugging it out the window, and instead savored this liquid goodness as well as I could.  The shake was thick, creamy, and extremely chocolatey (as it should've been, being the milk chocolate flavor).  I could definitely taste the thick milk used in the ingredients, which was an extremely refreshing change of pace from all the watery protein shakes I've had in the past.  Unfortunately the stuff was gone before I would've liked it to be, but throughout that day I noticed a resurgence of power through all my snatches, clean and jerks, and even my extremely high volume squats at the end of the workout, where I hit 105kg for four triples AFTER a total of 40 reps of varying lighter weights.  Thank goodness for that morning protein fix.

But what exactly had I just consumed?  More specifically, what's in Pure Pro 50 that makes it such an optimal shake for strength athletes?  Well, before I get going on why I love the nutritional breakdown of this shake, let me show you the nutritional label:

12/14.5 Fl. Oz. Bottles Milk Chocolate Serving Size1Bottle(14.5fl oz) Servings Per Container12 Amount Per Serving Calories 250 Calories From Fat 20 % Daily Value* Total Fat 2g 3% Saturated Fat 1g 5% Trans Fat 0g Cholesterol 40mg 13 Sodium 90mg 4 Potassium 490mg 14 Total Carbohydrate 9g 3 Dietary Fiber 3g 12% Sugars 3g Protein 50g Vitamin A 0% Calcium 100% Vitamin C 0% Iron 8% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Ingredients Water, Protein Blend (Milk Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Concentrate), Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Natural And Artificial Flavors, Cellulose Gel, Sucralose, Cellulose Gum, Acesulfame Potassium, Carrageenan. Allergen Information: Contains Milk Ingredients.

First and foremost, this stuff is PACKED with protein at a whopping 50 grams!  If that doesn't help those tired muscles recover, I don't know WHAT will.  And what I really like about this product is that it gets those proteins from various sources, including a quick digesting whey concentrate and a more slowly digesting milk protein concentrate.  This means that Pure Pro 50 will feed muscles both IMMEDIATELY and over an extended period of time, giving you a more complete recovery.

Second, this stuff is very low in both sugar and total carbohydrates!  I prefer low sugar protein sources, because once you start adding a ton of sugar you start to lose a lot of the support for lean muscle mass, and instead start coaxing your body to start storing some of those simple carbs as fat.  Now I know a lot of people out there say that you need fast acting carbs after a workout in order to force more protein into your muscles, but there have been multiple studies done refuting that claim.  Many EXTREMELY successful athletes don't supplement simple carbs after a workout, and if they do consume carbohydrates, they're usually a more complex carb like waxy maize, oats, or even vegetables (like sweet potatoes!)  You don't need sugar, and I'd much rather live without it.  The low total carbs in this product also promote its usage on low carb diets, and make it a much more versatile option for most people.

And on the subject of carbohydrates, Pure Pro 50 has 3 g of fiber!  That's AWESOME!  The more fiber you can get in your diet, the better.  Fiber helps digestion, allows your body to more effectively use the food it's been given, and helps to keep you lean.  Sweet!

Pure Pro 50 is also very low in sodium, and high in potassium, which is just what you want following a workout.  After working hard, your electrolytes have been severely depleted, and you need a decent dose of potassium to ensure your body can rehydrate effectively.  The fact that Pure Pro 50 takes this into account impresses me greatly.

And finally, Pure Pro 50 is very low in fat, with only 2 total grams, only 1 of which is saturated.  This is a perfect compliment to the average American's diet which is absolutely loaded with saturated fat.  Cut that crap out little by little, and I guarantee you'll like the results.

Now in terms of price, I have to say that these shakes become more fiscally feasible when consumed every now and then as a supplement to your normal protein powder.  They're relatively cheap on their own, but don't really become practical when bought in a 12 pack (like they're commonly sold in.)  It's between 40-50 bux for a 12 pack of Pure Pro 50, where as 4lbs of whey protein powder, which is about 50 servings, is around the same price.  12 vs. 50...hmmmm...I wonder which one I'd choose.

All in all though, Pure Pro 50 is a GREAT alternative to nasty canned shakes that are packed with sugar and lacking on the protein.  It's made with quality ingredients, has a great nutritional profile, is loaded with muscle building protein, and tastes absolutely DELICIOUS.  I would definitely recommend trying the milk chocolate flavor, boy was it yummy.  Who knows, you might get hooked on the stuff.  Thanks Pure Pro 50 for helping me recover from some of the craziest workout sessions of my life.

Shirataki Noodles: A Gift From The Food Gods

A few days ago, I visited a little store called "Nature's Storehouse" in Canton, NY.  They're quite the health shop, who sell every supplement you could ever desire, and every healthy food that seems to skip over the shelves of more common, "mundane" grocery stores.  I found various grains like amaranth, chia seeds, and quinoa, as well as various seaweed types like dulce flakes.  But upon entering that store I was really only looking for one thing: Shirataki noodles.  These noodles are a dieter's dream food, having only 1 net carb per serving, and between 5-20 calories per 4oz depending on whether they are enhanced with tofu or not.  I'm here to tell you today that my search was not fruitless, and I came back to my dorm with three 8oz bags of tofu shirataki noodles.  Let me tell you all right now, THESE THINGS RULE!

First, let's explore a little and find out what shirataki actually is.  Shirataki noodles are thin, gelatinous noodles made from a yam native to Japan called the Konjac Yam.  They happen to be extremely low carbohydrate, due to the fact that they're composed almost exclusively of soluble fiber, which can't be digested by your body (or at least they're not able to be used as an energy source.)  That means they have almost no calories as well, and each of my 8 oz bags has 40 calories.  Let me tell you folks, 8 oz is plenty of noodles, and will go with any meal quite nicely.  They'll fill you up pretty darn quick too, another plus.

So what's the difference between traditional shirataki noodles and tofu shirataki noodles?  Well, by themselves, shirataki noodles have zero carbs, and practically no calories, making them the ideal choice for the super strict dieter.  However, plain shirataki noodles have a bit of a strange texture to them, and can bit a bit "rubbery" to bite into.  Food production industries found that by adding a small amount of tofu to the noodles, the texture can be softened, and at the same time a tiny bit of carbohydrates and protein is added to the noodles as well.  As mentioned before, 4 oz of tofu shirataki noodles still only has 20 calories, so it's really NO big deal at all, and honestly it's nice to get at least a few nutrients into what basically is just a "filler food."  Tofu shirataki noodles (while still rare) are also much easier to find than plain shirataki noodles.

Just for fun, here are the nutritional facts for shirataki noodles and tofu shirataki noodles.

3 oz of plain shirataki noodles:

Nutrition Facts
Calories 2	(8 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat	0g	0%
Sat. Fat	0g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Total Carbs.	0.5g	< 1%
Dietary Fiber	0.5g	2%
Sugars	0g
Protein	0g

4 oz of tofu shirataki noodles:

Nutrition Facts
Calories 20	(84 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat	0.5g	< 1%
Sat. Fat	0g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	15mg	< 1%
Total Carbs.	3g	1%
Dietary Fiber	1.5g	6%
Sugars	0g
Protein	1g
Calcium	100mg

And also for fun, here's 2 oz of regular angel hair spaghetti:

Nutrition Facts
Calories 200	(836 kJ)
% Daily Value 1
Total Fat	1g	2%
Sat. Fat	0g	0%
Trans Fat	0g
Cholesterol	0mg	0%
Sodium	0mg	0%
Total Carbs.	42g	14%
Dietary Fiber	2g	8%
Sugars	1g
Protein	7g

Big difference right?  If you want low carb pasta, there isn't much substitute for shirataki noodles.  They're easy to get creative with as well.  I'm such a seafood lover that in my dorm the other day I cooked a package of tofu shirataki noodles with a can of drained clams, and two sliced mushrooms.  I added some chili powder, mixed it all up, threw it in the microwave, and before I knew it I had a delicious and filling meal that had 30 g of protein at less than 200 calories.  I'm sure the seafood lovers amongst you can appreciate my creation, and I assure you I was in heaven.

I ran across this recipe the other day and think it a remarkably creative example of using shirataki noodles to their full extent.  Looks delicious!

http://shirataki-noodles.recipesilove.com/2011/11/grilled-tofu-and-chicken-with-tofu-shirataki/

To wrap things up, let me say this:  Shirataki noodles really are a miracle food.  I can't wait to combine them with all sorts of other recipes and ingredients, because after seeing what can be done with them I realize I've barely scratched the surface of their potential.  If you can, I EMPLORE you to pick some up ASAP.  You won't regret it.  They're delicious, easy to cook, low calorie, low carb, and could very easily help your diet out BIGTIME.

Love shirataki, be creative, and as always, GOOD LUCK!