How stable is protein powder? Question about pre-mixing.

Steve_W · 08-02-2005, 01:55 AM

Hey guys,

This issue has recently come to light for me. I usually mix a protein shake before I leave for work as something for my break. Usually a good 2-3 hours before I drink, and it's usually calcium caseinate + milk/water. From any experiences, or anyone who has any clue, would this effect the protein at all? I do the same thing before my workouts also, except I add some creatine and will typically drink it about 2 hours later. It's just easier to pre-mix, but I'm not sure if this is a good idea.

Thank you.

martydaman · 08-02-2005, 01:59 AM

i pre mix. The longest ive gone is probably 6 hours before drinking it. I just shake the bottle real well before i drink it and its perfectly fine

Steve_W · 08-02-2005, 05:25 AM

Just bump this up for more opinions before I go to sleep!

Cheers guys.

uhockey · 08-02-2005, 05:36 AM

Don't know on the protein, probably depends on a lot of things including temperature and pH of the liquid you're mixing it in. I do know that mixing creatine into it 2 hours before hand is a bad idea as it breaks down relatively quickly in water.

cakedonkey · 08-02-2005, 05:38 AM

1) Calcium caseinate is considered one of the lowest quality proteins out there.
2) I would just put a couple scoops in a shaker bottle then add milk/water at your break, just "to be safe".

Da Main Man · 08-02-2005, 05:40 AM

calcium caseinate, i use it b4 bed :/

i would imagine it would get very clumpy in the shaker after a good few hours.....

madman911 · 08-02-2005, 09:42 AM

I've seen this question about protein stability posed quite a bit and the fact is that there' no problem with mixing a shake up the night before you're going to drink it, the protein content/quality isn't going to change significantly. Where do you think the protein is going to go? If it remains in solution for an extended period, it may eventually start to lose its normal molecular structure, called denaturation, but your body is going to digest it down into its component amino acids anyway so it doesn't matter. You cook chicken and beef right? Adding heat to protein denatures it, alters the molecular shape of the proteins, but the amino acid building blocks are still there and that's what your body requires. I'd recommend refrigeration just to prevent bacterial growth in your shake. BTW, I am a biologist and work with protein in the lab all the time.

Steve_W · 08-02-2005, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madman911

I've seen this question about protein stability posed quite a bit and the fact is that there' no problem with mixing a shake up the night before you're going to drink it, the protein content/quality isn't going to change significantly. Where do you think the protein is going to go? If it remains in solution for an extended period, it may eventually start to lose its normal molecular structure, called denaturation, but your body is going to digest it down into its component amino acids anyway so it doesn't matter. You cook chicken and beef right? Adding heat to protein denatures it, alters the molecular shape of the proteins, but the amino acid building blocks are still there and that's what your body requires. I'd recommend refrigeration just to prevent bacterial growth in your shake. BTW, I am a biologist and work with protein in the lab all the time.

Thanks for the indepth reply.

Quote:

I do know that mixing creatine into it 2 hours before hand is a bad idea as it breaks down relatively quickly in water

I did not know that, thanks for the heads up.

Sixpack · 08-02-2005, 04:43 PM

I would not worry about it Steve I would not let it sit for more then 24 hours but keep it cold if u can. Why not just add water and shake it when u are ready to drink it? Also just put the creatine in a little baggy and bring it with ya. I have premixed my protein and oats when I am at school and its seems to work fine.

Steve_W · 08-02-2005, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sixpack

I would not worry about it Steve I would not let it sit for more then 24 hours but keep it cold if u can. Why not just add water and shake it when u are ready to drink it? Also just put the creatine in a little baggy and bring it with ya. I have premixed my protein and oats when I am at school and its seems to work fine.

With water, that's easy, but I never carry milk around with me, haha.

I will, however, take creatine in a baggy.

Nathan1 · 08-02-2005, 05:53 PM

i knew i should have bookmarked where i read this, but i read some heads of protein/supp companies saying that no longer than i believe 4-6 hours should be gone without drinking. some kid said he made up pitchers in the fridge which he'd drink over the next few days. they replied by saying that the mix is a wonderful home for bacteria after a certain amount of time. i wish i could find the page, but just take my word for it. of course, the kid with the pitcher never died....yet.

but i also mix up a shake in the morning at 745am for 10am break and mix a 3 oclock shake up at 1245. no big deal. mix it as near to the time of drinking as possible AND don't wait longer than 6 hours for sure.

actually if you want to try something, next shake you drink, after you're done, just close the bottle, come back in 24 hours and open it, then take a wiff(smell it). NASTY ****! i'm not sure if it means anything, but i'm not sure why that wouldn't be the same way if it sat there even full(even though you may not initially smell it if it's full)....if that made sense. do it. do it.