Shake It Up Baby: Protein Powder in America

How it's made

The origins of protein powder started with an egg based powder, which probably tasted awful and was hard to digest. As industrial technology was being better developed, so too was the quality and variety of available protein powder being produced  Back in the 1950's the process of making protein was literally done by hand, as Bob Hoffman would stir together his shakes in huge pots before bottling them and distributing them. The manufacturing process of Whey protein in the 1950’s was slow moving belts with huge ovens to dehydrate the whey curds. Similar to the process shown in the video above, just implement 1950's technology and building materials. It goes to show that the steps needed to take cow’s milk, and turn it into a powder are relatively the same it's simply the newer technology and machines that give us reason to research how to better develop such a versatile meal replacement product. With today's technology, Whey protein and other forms of protein powder can be mass produced with relative ease. As the video details, it takes a large amount of Whey milk to be processed into Whey powder. Not only is this inefficient for production, but Whey powder isn't necessarily the best form of Protein powder for your digestive system. The only type of milk that the human body naturally is able to digest is breast milk. Would you drink a breast milk protein shake? This doesn't mean the stomach won't digest Whey once you consume it, it simply means that the digestion of Whey Powder is relatively difficult for the human stomach. This hasn't ever stopped people from consuming whey however… The production and marketing of whey products can be traced back to 18th century England where they would break the curdled whey and turn it into butter and certain types of cheeses. Cow’s milk has been used in a variety of ways throughout history so it doesn't seem weird to consume it. Interestingly humans are the only species on earth that take the milk from another animal and repurposes it for their own use. This is why I prefer a protein powder that is plant based, made in a clean facility, and has high testing and ingredient regulations. The human body should be able to digest a plant based protein powder much easier making the healthiest option in today market a plant based Protein Powder. The best protein powders have a full amino acid complex, and low sugar content. As time has progressed so too have the technology and methods involved in the process of taking cow milk and turning it into a whey based powder. While Bob Hoffman is credited with creating a fish based protein in the 1950's, various other protein based substances have been introduced and taken off the market just as quickly. The only protein product that has stood the test of time in the world of bodybuilders is a Whey based protein powder. In the old way of processing protein powder, it involved various heaters and ovens to in order to extract all the moisture. Then big rollers would flatten and crush the protein substance. Similar to the process used now, however the technology and monitoring systems were less advanced. The final product of protein powder produced without modern technology was coarse, bad tasting product made in a way that is not nearly as controlled as modern methods.
 

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