Recommended Protein Drinks for Weight Loss Surgery Patients

When I had gastric bypass surgery last year, I was introduced to protein drinks. You see, as a gastric bypass patient, I need a minimum of 60 grams of protein a day, and it's difficult to get that much protein from the food I eat because I can only eat limited amounts at a time.

While protein drinks are highly recommended for weight loss surgery patients, others can benefit from them as well. It is generally recommended that everyone get about 50 - 55 grams of protein per day, and not everyone gets that from their diet. Athletes need more protein than that, as do others with specific nutritional needs.

I'll tell you about my favorite protein drinks, but everyone's taste is different. I recommend you get samples of a number of different protein mixes before you purchase a big tub of anything. Some manufacturers will send you samples if you email them and ask. GNC sometimes gives out free samples, if you shop there. You can also purchase samples of a number of different protein shakes at www.vitalady.com very cheaply.

BSN Lean Dessert Protein

Lean Dessert Protein is mixed with water, not milk, but it makes a thick and creamy shake. It comes in a variety of flavors, including banana cream pudding, chocolate coconut, chocolate fudge pudding, and whipped vanilla cream. I was a bit disappointed in the chocolate coconut because I couldn't taste any coconut flavor. It just tasted like a chocolate milkshake to me. Good, but I was hoping for coconut. I enjoyed the other flavors, though.

Lean Dessert Protein has about 150 calories per serving, and 21 grams of protein, and just 8 grams of carbs.

Syntrax Nectar

Syntrax Nectar is another protein powder that is mixed with water instead of milk. It comes in the typical vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry flavors, but also comes in a variety of other flavors, like fruity juice-type drinks. Flavors include apple ecstasy, fuzzy navel, strawberry kiwi, and twisted cherry. They also have a roadside lemonade which is pretty good. I did not like the lemon tea flavor at all, however.

I usually mix my protein drinks in the blender, and tried this with Syntrax Nectar. It made them very, very foamy, and I didn't like that. They mix better in a shaker cup, or even just when stirred with a spoon. The powder dissolves very well.

Syntrax nectar has about 90 calories per serving, 23 grams of protein, and no sugar or carbs, making it extremely healthy.

Chike Protein

Chike is a very popular brand of protein powder. It comes in five flavors, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, orange, and banana. It is mixed with fat free milk. The flavors are OK by themselves, but I like to add stuff to them. Like, half a banana to the chocolate, or some frozen berries to the vanilla. Mix them in the blender or in a Magic Bullet with a few ice cubes for a frosty shake.

Chike has about 170 calories per serving, 27 grams of protein, and 9 grams of carbs.

Sources:

BSN Online. http://store.bsnonline.net/detail/leandessertprotein.html. Lean Dessert Protein.

Netrition.com. http://www.netrition.com/syntrax_nectar_page.html. Syntrax Nectar.

Bariatric Resource Center. http://www.bsciresourcecenter.com/proddetail.php?prod=CK-ChikeBottles12. Chike Protein Drinks.