Protein Shake Expiration Date?

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Hey all, there's a sale in the health store and they're offering "Weider Mega Mass with Clua and Creatine" for about 50% off. I normally wouldn't be able to afford this stuff but now I can.

I asked why it was on sale and it seems that it's "taken best before December 2005" so I asked the saleslady if it was still okay to take it and she gave me a "if it weren't we wouldn't be selling it" kind of answer.

It contains 3lbs worth of the protein mix and I work out 3x a week so I guess if I buy it now I'll be done with it within 2 months.

I know a number of SPers are pretty knowledgable about this stuff, so I just wanted to ask: can I still take this or will it mess me up somehow?

 

I work for one of Weider's competitors.

Since it's recently expired, it isn't "bad" per se, but it does lose its potency. The protein has a limited shelf life and will denature after a while. I say go ahead, just consider yourself getting about 70% of the protein and nutrient content per serving that you would normally get (less so gradually as time goes on). It won't mess you up, it'll just be less effective than normal. Also, if it tastes funny, don't use it.

[ February 12, 2006, 09:34: Message edited by: Death Rabbit ]

 

Oh, which one DR?

Also, what exactly do you mean by "funny"? Because I'm not really used to taking protein shakes so I'm assuming that most of them don't taste very good and I may not be able to tell whether it's gone bad or not

 

I work for Labrada Nutrition.

By "funny," I mean rotten or spoiled. When protein powders go bad they start to get a rotten eggs/rotten milk kind of taste. Protein shakes usually taste like ass to begin with, but you should be able to determine rotten from regular if you've ever had a pre-expiration shake before. Honestly, it isn't far enough past the expiration that I would worry about it too much.

 

My husband has some in the shelf that is expired by 3 years....So if it is still edible we are looking at say.....maybe 30% of the goodness it used to have?

He was about to drink some the other day until I made him take note of the expiry.

 

@ Dragonfly - um, no, I wouldn't drink it then. That's WAY too expired. Enag's shake is only expired a few months, so it's probably still pretty good. While the exact extent of the denaturing I can't say, it's probably best for your husband to just throw that stuff away.

 

As long as it is dry, it's probably still good.


Protein shakes tastes bad? It's my favourite drink!

 

Thanks for the info DR, I just picked it up and will be using it at my next workout this friday.

However, the instructions say that I'm supposed to take 3 servings every workout day (each serving with 4 spoonfulls). Does this really mean EVERY? Because at that rate, at my workout sched of 3x a week wont it be gone in around 2 weeks?

 

You must be taking the wrong ones. Some taste pretty good.
Hehe, they are not supposed to be tasty though.

 

Enag,

a) That's true in the context of hard gaining. The serving suggestion estimates the amount of protein and nutrients you need to ingest to get the maximum muscle gains from your workout. So while you don't have to drink 3 shakes every work out day, you will most likely see bigger results, and faster.

That said...

b) Too some degree, it's also marketing bullsh*t to get you to buy more shakes. Kind of along the same lines as "wash, rinse, repeat" on shampoo bottles.

If you're just trying to stay healthy and in shape, one shake per day is plenty. If you're a training athlete, do a shake before workout and a shake before bed. If you're wanting to pack on serious muscle mass, go 3 times a day and add 300mg of creatine monohydrate to your regimen, in addition to eating every 3 hours without fail. Since most protein shakes (especially from a company like Weider) are geared toward bodybuilders, the recommended dose is 3 shakes per day. However (and even Weider would admit this), real, whole-foods are better for you overall. These shakes are intended to be supplements, even though many are considered "meal replacement shakes." They are meant to be a "meal" only if you're eating 6 meals a day, which is necessary to lose body fat and pack on lean muscle mass.

 

The ingestion of protein shake is unique to each person. If you are already in good shape - solid muscles, good routine, good metabolism etc - you should ingere 2 to 2,2 of grams of protein for each Kg of your body - total protein, not only shakes of course. If you are in a process of losing fat, you might increase the ammount to even 3 grams, because you will need to compensate with protein the less quantity of carbs you are will be ingering - unless you don't mind losing muscles and feeling weak, tired. If you are not, a range between 1,5 to 1,8 should do.
Shakes are very helpful in this. I ingere about 80 grams from Whey Protein - not 80 grams of the Whey product, but 80 grams of protein within it - daily. Plus about 17 grams from a protein bar to a total of almost 100 grams of protein solely from supplements. The rest I take from a diet heavy on chicken - grilled - and other resourceful aliments.
Honestly, I can't image some real meaningful results without the help of supplements and a strict diet - eating every 3 hours, the right stuff etc. To rest properly is almost as important as well, because it is during your sleeping that anabolism takes place, mostly - read, your muscles grow.
A hint, don't get worried about how many spoons you should take or whatnot. Instead, learn how many proteins your muscles need to grow - a nutricionist will help if you can afford, otherwise use the little formula I gave you - because depending on the brand you are taking, this kind of stuff might change a lot. After learning that, use the supplements the best way to achieve that goal. Also, don't take them in resting days.
Creatine is also very good to boost your training; gives you power and helps in muscle building - it is also good if you are on a lose diet as well, to give you the energy you will probably be lacking due to your low ingestion of calories.
Anyway, after deciding how much protein you will be taking from supplements, you should decide when to take them. Personally, I like to eat my protein bar about 30 minutes at least before my session, one shake just after the training, as well as before resting - believe me, your organism will need protein during your sleep, because of the anabolism. Hint, before resting, give preference to protein from casein sources than serum's.
Sorry, but I am not too sure on the number equivalents in lbs.
There are many details though, that should come into place depending on your aims, and unique to each person, so you should set objectives before anything else, and ask for support and information from there on.
Good training!

 

I always used to get a sore stomach from those protein shakes so I stopped having them. No Arnold Schwarzenegger body for me then.

 

Maybe you are alergic to them? Do you ingere milk or related stuff? You might be alergic to them. If that is the case, there are some different products to substitute whey protein if you wish. Let me know.