Looking for tasty but soy-free protein shake

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surfette
surfette Member Posts: 232
edited June 2014 in Recipe Swap for Healthy Living

Hi there. I had my lumpectomy last Wednesday and I sure don't want this cancer ever coming back!

I brought in my list of vitamins and supplements to my doctor and asked if there was anything I should be avoiding. He said the flaxseed oil (because of phyto-estrogens) and the protein shake (because of soy) were to be avoided, along with my soy lecithin powder. So I've ditched the lecithin and the flaxseed oil (started fish oil instead) but I am loathe to get rid of my protein powder altogether.

Does anyone have a recommendation on a tasty SOY-FREE protein powder? I am a vegetarian and absolutely will not eat meat or fish.

I am kicking myself thinking I have given myself this cancer but the best thing I can do if that is the case is not do it again.

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited October 2010

    Try whey protein powder. I have one that is soy free.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    The one the doctor told me to avoid was whey. It's called Precision Engineered. He told me all whey drinks have soy. What brand do you have? I really LOVED the taste of my drink. I've tried several others and they were awful!

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited October 2010

    It is called whey to go and is by Solgar.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    Unfortunately, that does contain soy, per the label.

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited October 2010

    First of all, I no longer use any kind of protein drink, so I have to say I'm no expert.  But... I do know whey is a by-product of milk... and soy would have to be listed on the label... so I'm not sure about the whey-soy connection your dr. mentioned.  On one hand, I know drs. usually don't have a good diet/nutrition background; on the other hand, there are certainly things I don't know about diet and nutrition and protein drinks! Before you buy any protein drinks, I'd read the labels carefully, research & know the ingredients (don't trust websites that also sell protein powders), and decide from that. 

    If it doesn't bother you, you can always make a smoothie (I use fruit and Greek yogurt) with a raw egg.  I only buy eggs from local chickens, and if the egg white/yolk doesn't touch the outside of the eggshell, chances of salmonella are slim to none, but I don't trust and won't buy "factory" eggs at all.  I know it makes most people nervous to eat raw eggs, just a thought.

    I look for protein outside of protein drinks (I avoid processed foods of any kind as much as possible).  Not as easy from a vegetarian standpoint but I rarely eat meat so I search for those options, too... and I try to avoid dairy (milk, cheese, etc.) (plain yogurt is the one thing I love but I don't eat it daily) so that wipes out another potential source.  Beans, lentils (usually with a grain of some kind) are in my diet a lot :)

    Good luck!

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited October 2010

    Soy is not on the label. I specifically check for that in everything I buy. Naturegrrl, I also love yogurt and don't do dairy (except for my whey drink) so I eat organic goat milk yogurt. It's great.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    If you go to this link, and look on the right hand side, under ingredients, it says contains milk (whey) and soy.

    http://www.solgar.com/pub/supplement/32874.pdf

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  • NatureGrrl
    NatureGrrl Member Posts: 1,367
    edited October 2010

    If you read the label, it lists all the ingredients.  Soy lecithin is listed part way down the label -- far enough down to be a very minor ingredient.  Soy as a "bad" food (some forms certainly are, just as some forms of dairy are considered bad by many) is still largely debated, but that aside... The disclaimer at the end that says, "Contains milk (whey) and soy" is just that -- a disclaimer for those who are allergic, etc.  It doesn't mean that the ingredients are in large quantity. It's a disclaimer to protect the company above all else.

     It helps a lot if you know how to read labels.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    Wow, sorry...

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited October 2010

    Maybe on their website by my container has no soy listed at all. It does say that it contains milk.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    That's really odd because it appears to be a photograph of the label. Are you able to get this product in the stores or do you have to order it online?

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  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited October 2010
    I got it in the store and the woman at the health food store zeroed right in on this one because she has a soy allergy and she takes it. This is kinda blurry but no soy. 
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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010

    That's interesting, I wonder if they reformulated. How does it taste? I'll see if Whole Foods has it.

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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited October 2010
    Well the mystery is solved. At lunch I went over to Whole Foods and checked it out. It turns out the old formulation is soy-free but now they have one that says New and improved formulation and that has soy in it. I grabbed the last can of the old formula. Too bad, as whey I think tastes better than the other protein powders.
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  • sdstarfish
    sdstarfish Member Posts: 544
    edited November 2010
    I have a suggestion that has no soy or whey. It's also vegan. The brand is Nutri Biotic Rice Protein Powder. I know Whole Foods carries it. They have plain, choc, berry, and vanilla.
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  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 232
    edited November 2010

    Thanks, but I'm good for now, I bought up all the remaining Whey to Go Solgar brand without the soy. I'm good for probably a year! Interesting thing, I talked to my oncologist who has a different view than my surgeon. She says they are not as freaked out about soy as they used to be. She said the amount of soy lecithin that is to be found in many foods, including whey protein, is not anything to be concerned about. She said as long as I am not a one of those people who consume soy milk, tofu, etc on a daily basis not to worry.

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  • blessedgrandmom
    blessedgrandmom Member Posts: 1
    edited July 2011

    Hi!

    I have spent hours researching this topic. I enjoy protein shakes as meal replacements, especially during the summer months. Before I was diagnosed with breast cancer (2007), I did not pay much attention to the ingredients in protein shakes. The taste was more important to me then. Now, I stay away from products with soy. Since my diagnosis, I've given up on protein shakes for this reason. I want to enjoy them once again but I'm so confused about all the different kinds of products out there!

    I did, however, find your discussion on the topic very beneficial. I'm going to go on a search for the Whey to Go Solgar brand without the soy. Hopefully, I will be able to find it. If not, I'll take a look at the Nutri Biotic Rice Protein Powder. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

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  • GmaFoley
    GmaFoley Member Posts: 7,091
    edited July 2011

    I make a fruit smoothie with 1 cup frozen fruit, 1 cup greek yogurt, and a 1/2 cup almond milk - sweeten to taste.. the greek yogurt and almond milk is high protein.. my nutritionist thinks its great....

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