What did bodybuilders use to supplement their diets back in the 70s and before?

[PumpItUp4Real]

I see all these old time bodybuilders (Dave Draper, Arnold, Lou Ferrigno, etc etc) that had amazing physiques even by todays standards. Was whey protein and other supplements even in existence then? OR were their results from pure whole foods? Of course some of these guys took steroids, but besides that fact...I am referring specifically to protein and other supplements during this time.

[SupraToWRX]

I'm going to take a stab at it and say that the bulk of their diet came from pure whole foods since supplements were not prevalent like today. I personally love the tight waist builds of the old school bodybuilders.

[IraHays]

They ate their arses off and most importantly busted arse in the gym. Lots of read meat, milk and sweat. And of course vitamin S.

[SummerBear]

Protein supplements have been around for a long time - I believe by the 60's and 70's milk proteins were being used more than before (as opposed to soy in the begining) Anyhow, Yes, they did have protein supplements, infact there is a picture of Draper somewhere advertising for a weider protein shake.

Apparently they tasted like dirt though.

Whoops - found a good article, sorry it's so long

PROTEIN POWDERS AND SUPPLEMENTS

In the late 1930s a young pharmacist named Eugene Schiff developed a method of processing whey from milk for human consumption. He created Schiff Bio-Foods, a whey packaging company. This was a half century before whey concentrates would emerge as a popular supplement in the bodybuilding scene. For a short time he sold his packaged whey to local drug stores, then sold his own store to enter into the manufacturing and packaging of health foods.

Schiff focused on supplements made from natural products. He began to experiment with whole foods such as brewer’s yeast, wheat germ and liver. He found that these foods were naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. The Schiff company claims that he was first to discover that rose hips was a superior source of vitamin C. Along with the first rose hip vitamin C supplement, he also launched one of the first multi-vitamin products, called “V-Complete.”

The demand during World War II for non-perishable foods allowed the food industry to expand and popularize the market for powdered or dehydrated foods and bodybuilders would eventually find their way into this market. Powdered milk and eggs, and later powdered soy protein, were promoted as an easy way to get additional protein into the diet. Breakfast drinks based on a protein powder emerged into the diet of the legendary Steve Reeves who years later wrote about this practice in his book Building The Classic Physique. Reeves’ impressive natural physique landed him starring roles in the films Hercules and Hercules Unchained in the late 1950s and inspired thousands of young men to adopt weight training. His recipe for a breakfast drink included fresh orange juice, Knox gelatin, honey, banana, raw eggs and a blend of skim milk, egg white and soy protein.

The first protein powders “tailored” specifically for athletes appeared around 1950. One of these was called 44, “The Supplemental Food Beverage,” produced in California by a company called Kevo Products. The principle ingredient was dehydrated powdered whole soy beans, along with kelp, wheat germ, dextrose, and various dehydrated plants, herbs and flavorings. The supplement was sold at health food stores, body-building studios, and health institutes.

Another popular product was Hi-Protein, “a protein food supplement derived from soya flour, milk proteins, and wheat. The free amino acids which include natural tryptophan and the other natural essential amino acids where produced by an acid hydrolysis.” The product was developed by bodybuilder and nutrition guru Irvin Johnson with before and after photographs of weaklings turned musclemen. Bob Hoffman quickly capitalized on Johnson’s success by following immediately with his own soy-based product marketed heavily in Strength and Health. Hoffman’s infamous protein claimed many a victim with hives or gym-clearing gas.

The debates on raw versus cooked and vegetarianism versus meat eating that appeared in bodybuilding magazines during the 1940s gave way to numerous articles on protein supplements in the 1950s, including “Building Biceps Faster With Food Supplements (Iron Man, December 1950,” “More and Better Protein Will Keep you Well (Strength & Health, March 1953),” “The Magical Power Of Protein (Mr. America, February 1958),” “Food Supplements Build Rock Hard Definition (Muscle Builder, June 1958)” and “Everyone Needs More Protein (Strength & Health, July 1959).

Meal replacement products also appeared during the 1950s, with much hype. One product, called B-FIT, was recommended as a replacement for two or three regular meals per day. According to its promoters, B-FIT “is scientifically formulated to contain all the needed vitamins and minerals, plus ample supplies of the effective proteins and yet is so low in calories that the fatty tissue literally melts away. . . . You will not suffer from any nutritional deficiencies because B-FIT is a complete food insofar as scientific experiment and research is possible to develop. Approved by dieticians.”

Advocates for new diet theories—food combining, alkaline-forming diets, even strict vegetarianism—promoted their ideas throughout the 1950s, but the big emphasis was on protein powders and supplements. For the 1954 world weightlifting championships, team coach Bob Hoffman hauled more than 100 pounds of his Hi Protein powder to Vienna, hailing it as the “secret weapon” for his athletes. But Russia, whose athletes finished no lower than second place, had a secret weapon of their own. (http://www.westonaprice.org/men/splendidspecimens.html)

[zcsmith]

My guess? A lot of steroids and such, as well as a lot of food.

That's why I think that there are so many unnecessary supplements these days. Sticking with a creatine, protein, and multi is probably your best bet. Anything else after that won't deliver it's value in money, IMO.

[RADIRON]

Yes, there were UNflavored protein powders that were quite difficult to mix. They also relied on amino acids tabs and dessicated liver tabs. Of course, as stated above, they ate lots of food...whole milk (there was no skim back then), red meat, whole eggs. The nutritional knowledge back then pales in comparison to today but I'd take Arnold's build over ANYone's today, thank you very much.