Whey Protein Isolate

Questions about alcohol on keto and using different oils/protein

This entry is part 134 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

Got an email today, I took long enough to answer it I thought I might as well put my answer in a blog post.

The first question was about whether they need to give up alcohol

Well, there are a lot of reports on /r/keto about being on keto lowering tolerance for alcohol (just search for “keto cheap date” and you’ll see what I mean). “Liquid bread” drinks like beer have WAY too many carbs but distilled spirits don’t – and the aforementioned lower tolerance makes it less expensive too.

The second question was about if I had considered algal oil in powder form – it’s what Rosa Labs uses for Soylent 1.6

Rosa Lab’s motivation is a bit different than mine: they want to use vegan sources for everything. While that’s possible with keto, it runs counter to much of the philosophy. MCT oil and cream are better (tasting) and have definitive advantages for ketosis. Additionally doing powdered oils with keto is difficult to do because most powdered oils use starch (maltodextrin) and you’d end up with several times more carbs that the max amount. The only exception to that is the Quest powdered MCT/Coconut oil but it’s prohibitively expensive. I did some poking around and found that to get powdered coconut oil in palettes it ends up being almost exactly the same price as the end user simply buying it from Quest off Amazon.

The third question was about switching to soy protein

Rosa Labs was using rice protein in their powdered mix but it gives an icky silty gritty mouthfeel. Doing Soy protein is the best option if you don’t want to use whey protein. Again, I’m not interested in vegan (I eat a lot of bacon) – I want the best tasting and highest nutrition that’s economical, with emphasis on taste and texture. To that end I’m using whey protein. Doesn’t have the grit of rice or the (incorrect but whatever) public relations issues that soy has with the phytoestrogen scare.

So the short answer to the 3rd question is simply: Keto Chow already has superior nutrition, flavor and mouthfeel; it’s better than the new stuff Rosa Labs is using.

By |2016-10-13T07:27:36-06:00June 29th, 2016|Soylent, Keto Chow|Comments Off on Questions about alcohol on keto and using different oils/protein
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Old flavors, new flavors, dead flavors.

This entry is part 127 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

My wife just reminded me that I need to post something about the state of the flavors of Keto Chow. The ones I can get have diminished significantly in the last while:

  • Piña Colada: discontinued
  • Smooth Banana: discontinued
  • Butter Cream Toffee: discontinued
  • Cinnamon Bun: discontinued
  • Mint Chocolate: not certain, most of my suppliers have removed it from their sites, and it’s getting harder and harder to source. Might not be long for this world =(

We still have some stock of a few of the discontinued ones (mostly samples and days) but we’ll be watching the stock levels closely. The ones I can still get easily:

  • Rich Chocolate
  • Vanilla
  • Strawberry
  • Snickerdoodle
  • Chocolate Fudge
  • Cookies and Cream

So I guess it’s good timing that I’m getting closer to having my own flavors for Keto Chow. Speaking of that: today I received the first 5 samples of the protein + flavoring that I’ll be using in Keto Chow 2.0. I’d be mixing it up right now but we made 12 meals worth last night and don’t have any clean blender bottles available (not to mention I need to drink down the supply in my fridge). Closer and closer every day!

By |2016-05-27T12:09:27-06:00May 5th, 2016|Ingredients, Site or Store Stuff, Keto Chow, Ketogenic|2 Comments
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Day 095 – 100 days of Keto (Chow)

This entry is part 78 of 81 in the series 100 days of keto
  • Weight: 206.0
  • Blood ketones: 0.2 mmol/L

Had an awesome time at the IFT Food Suppliers trade show yesterday. Met some great people and might have found some new suppliers for ingredients. It was funny to see some of the places I’m getting some of my current ingredients from too. I happened upon one supplier that does fiber and asked if they have psyllium husk powder. They don’t but the guy asked what I was using it for, I gave a quick explanation to which he responded “wait, you’re doing Keto? so am I!” We had a rousing conversation that went all over the place but the end result was I’m going to be getting a sample shipment of their acacia gum fiber and their thickener to test in Keto Chow. Allegedly it’s a far better source of fiber than psyllium so I’m anxious to try it out. We’ll see!

By |2016-04-08T14:42:54-06:00April 8th, 2016|100 days of keto, Keto Chow|1 Comment
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Day 094 – 100 days of Keto (Chow)

This entry is part 77 of 81 in the series 100 days of keto
  • Weight: 204.8
  • Blood ketones: 0.2 mmol/L

Yesterday I only did two keto chow shakes – we got a new waffle maker and my wife made keto waffles, figured we might as well go all-in on “breakfast for dinner” so I cooked a bunch of bacon and sausage. Also yesterday I got some preliminary figures for the costs of the protein for keto Chow 2.0. In the early stages I had asked for a blend of Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein isolate and Casein Protein (milk). Casein has some advantages in that it’s slower to absorb which can keep you feeling full longer, it’s also beneficial for weight lifting with a higher glutamine content. The problem is: it’s three times the cost of concentrate, it also adds an additional allergy possibility. From the looks of things we’re going to be using a blend of whey isolate and concentrate that is very similar to the Dymatize and I’ll probably add a recommendation that anyone doing body building use casein to supplement the protein in the Keto Chow (which is likely going to be just a touch higher than the current recipe).

This evening I’m going to check out the IFT Food Suppliers event, with any luck I might be able to find some additional industry leads for production/packaging or ingredients. Only problem: I’ll have to do it quick because weigh-in for the Pinewood Derby is at 6:30 and I don’t want to miss the event!

By |2016-04-08T13:47:01-06:00April 7th, 2016|100 days of keto, Keto Chow|Comments Off on Day 094 – 100 days of Keto (Chow)
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My own custom vitamin Pre-mix

This entry is part 120 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

For those that didn’t know: I’m working towards significantly scaling up my operation. Like full-on industrial manufacturing using a co-packer. Today I finally got pricing for a vitamin/mineral pre-mix. There are a bunch of reasons for this but to name a few:

  • Everything in every room in my house has Keto Chow powder on it. Like literally everything. Rooms on every floor have it on every surface, it’s kinda nuts. Ever done drywall work and had the dust all over? yeah, that’s easier to clean up (I know this because I just did that in the living room).
  • My production capacity is currently limited by how much time I can devote to it, I can’t handle much more order volume than I’m currently experiencing. This limits the business in general. I have refrained from doing any marketing at all to prevent crushes in orders I can’t handle.
  • Haven’t had an issue with quality control other than 2 batches that didn’t get the right amount of mineral pre-mix. One was several months ago and the other was last week, this last one we caught before any were shipped out; anyway – I’d like to improve the quality control so it’s even better than what I currently have going on.
  • I’d like to be able to take a vacation this summer =)

Anyhow several months ago I contacted a few vitamin pre-mix people to see if it was possible for them to make a replacement for the Kirkland Signature Multi-vitamins I’m currently using in my mix. The few places that responded told me they had a minimum order of 100 kg. Back then I balked and let the inquiry die because 100 kg in 10g/week increments would make 9,293 “week” (21 meal) bags of Keto Chow! Now that I’m looking into co-packing I need to be able to get all my stuff in massive bulk quantities so I’m not grinding several hundred pounds of vitamin capsules, it would be a full time job. In my inquiries about co-packing I was put in touch with a place that does nutrient pre-mixes. While hashing out the mix we eventually ended up incorporating several of the ingredients into the pre-mix. Turns out several of the ingredients are particularly hygroscopic and needs to be paired with something to keep it dry. So if you want Choline Bitatrate you have to add Calcium Phosphate or it won’t last 6 months.  We have the formulation formalized on paper and I’ll be getting a sample in 2 weeks or so to test out. In the end we’re replacing

  • Calcium Citrate/Magnesium Citrate/D3 powder
  • Calcium Phosphate
  • Choline L-Bitatrate
  • Kirkland Signature Vitamins
  • Vitamin MK-7

The best part is it actually costs slightly less than what I’m currently using ( $0.20859/day compared to  $0.27655/day) even if I get it in the smallest quantity I can order. If I scale up to 2500kg I can save even more =).

Friday I finally got a sample of psyllium husk that I can get in 55lb and 2000lb bags, it was more finely ground than the NOW psyllum powder, I’m super excited about it! Still don’t have pricing yet though =(

The next step that I’m working on is getting a replacement for the Dymatize protein powder I’m using. It’s gotten harder and harder to find the various flavors and some (Pina Colada, Banana, Cinnamon Bun) I haven’t found in several weeks and don’t think I ever will be able to get again – 2 of my suppliers have indicated the Pina Colada has been discontinued by the manufacturer. I’m working with a lady locally that formulates flavors to come up with suitable replacements. Hopefully I’ll have this ready in the next month and before the Dymatize goes completely unavailable (which I doubt Rich Chocolate and the other really popular flavors will disappear but I haven’t been able to get them in 10lb boxes for months).

So what does this mean for the future of Keto Chow, the recipe? Well, I’ll have Keto Chow 1.0.4 open for anyone to use still, that’s not changing. I’m also going to open the new recipe (tentatively called Keto Chow 2.0) but it likely won’t be something a regular person can make themselves since it’ll require a custom vitamin pre-mix along with using a custom protein powder and custom flavorings. For the most part you’ll still be able to make 1.0.4 yourself but whatever flavors I come up with (along with the expected ones I’m planning on trying for plain and savory flavors!) will only be available from me, but one of the goals in all this is also to reduce the cost and therefore the price of the stuff I’m selling. Better quality, easier to get, less expensive – that’s the plan.

Don’t hold your breath unless you can do so for a long while but that’s the plan for the future. At some point I’m going to check out some of the manufacturers I found that specialize in aseptic packaging of mixed liquids. Pre-mixed Keto Chow in a bottle with the cream and oil already mixed in and doesn’t require refrigeration? Yeah that would be awesome!

By |2016-10-13T07:27:52-06:00February 15th, 2016|Site or Store Stuff, Keto Chow|9 Comments
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Keto and Kidneys from a Golden Oldie, Senior citizen viewpoint

This entry is part 115 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

Here is a followup experience to an earlier post:

Caution is always advised when considering a new diet and I read all the studies, comments and concerns about

[moderate] protein/low carb combinations.  I did not factor in my response to the protein powder because I did not realize my kidney function was diminished.  I have had two painful episodes.  The first seemed attributable to dehydration, which should be avoided at all times.  The second hit me hard after limiting protein powder for 3 weeks and deciding my issues had been temporary.  They are permanent and very painful.  I am fortunate, that I appear to have recovered without serious damage.

I share this to help others be aware of the remote, but real, possibility of kidney problems.  My age could be a factor, since I am over 65, but husband is just a few months older and he has no problems.  Other health impairments could also contribute to the difficulty; but I have heard my body’s clear message and will try to find less intense ways to balance nutrition and protein intake.

I have not “found” the weight I lost during the two months on the keto diet.  It helped me become much more aware of the hidden sugars that lurk in commercially prepared foods.  Changing eating habits to better choices is beneficial and this continues to be my plan.

I personally, liked the Keto Chow approach and wish I could maintain it.  Keto Chow is simple, easy to prepare and delicious.  My husband will keep his schedule of enjoying 2-3 meals a day.  We see embracing sugar free living as a way to be kind to our aging bodies and not become diabetic.

Bottom line:  if you can tolerate the protein…try the Keto Chow.  It is amazing.

So there you go: if you have kidney problems, check carefully to make sure you can handle the protein; and specifically the protein powder

By |2016-10-13T07:27:55-06:00January 16th, 2016|Keto Chow|Comments Off on Keto and Kidneys from a Golden Oldie, Senior citizen viewpoint
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Bodybuilding.com vs. AllStarHealth.com – protein price comparison

I like ordering from BodyBuilding.com because they get stuff to me the next day. I started using Allstarhealth.com for Psyllium Husk powder and the Cal/Mag/D3 powder but I wanted to see how the price compares between Bodybuildng and AllstarHealth; who ships from California to Utah in 2 days (still pretty good).

I put together a test order on both sites for two 2-lb tubs and two 10-lb boxes. Here’s how it broke down:

Bodybuilding.com AllstarHealth.com
Subtotal $225.88 $210.76
Coupon $22.59 $0
Shipping $12.98 $5.95
Tax $0 $0
Total $216.27 $216.71

So, the initial price is a bit higher on bodybuilding.com compared to Allstarhealth.com BUT there’s a 10% off coupon that is always up to date on this page that brings the price down. Note about that coupon: it changes once a month and you can only use the code once (until the next time it changes, next month)… unless you order using “incognito mode” and checkout as a guest. So for now I’m going to stick with Bodybuilding.com – it’s a day quicker and costs just a teeny, tiny bit less.

By |2016-10-13T07:28:15-06:00April 9th, 2015|Site or Store Stuff|Comments Off on Bodybuilding.com vs. AllStarHealth.com – protein price comparison
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Checked out the Dymatize “Gourmet” flavors, prolly won’t work for ketosis.

This entry is part 44 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

I got a message asking what the difference was between the Dymatize Nutrition Elite “Gourmet Vanilla”
and Dymatize Elite Gourmet “French Vanilla” – In a nutshell: the difference is carbs.

I freaked out and got super excited when I saw that the “gourmet”line has peanut butter chocolate flavor. I almost ordered some right then and there but then I checked the nutrition label and compared it to the “elite”.ELite_Whey_Vanilla_2lbs EG-2lb-FV

The “gourmet” ones have 6 grams of net carbohydrates per “serving” compared to 2 on the “elite”, so 3x as much. If you put 110g of the gourmet into Keto Chow, it will contribute 20.72 net carbs making a grand total of 24.62g net carbs (compared to 13 with the “elite”). Now, that’s actually doable depending on your activity level and not eating anything else with carbs in it during the rest of the day but you will have a harder time staying in ketosis.

Dangit, I was looking forward to trying the chocolate peanut butter. I guess I could always grab some PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter, it has 3 net carbs per 12g serving. OK, you’ve talked me into it, I’m going to get some and try 12g in a blender bottle of Keto Chow.

By |2016-10-13T07:28:18-06:00March 12th, 2015|Soylent, Keto Chow, Ketogenic|2 Comments
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Additional Flavors for Keto Chow

This entry is part 31 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

The flavored protein I’m using for Keto Chow comes in more than the 3 flavors I’m going to keep stocked so I added an option to special order any of the other available flavors. It does cost $15 more than the chocolate mint, strawberry or vanilla since I have to get a tub of that flavor just for the one order; and it may add an additional 2-5 days to the time it takes to get your stuff but hey, you’ve got the option if you’re so inclined. The other flavors are:

  • “Butter Cream Toffee”
  • “Cafe Mocha”
  • “Chocolate Fudge”
  • “Cinnamon Bun”
  • “Cookies & Cream”
  • “Pina Colada”
  • “Rich Chocolate”
  • “Smooth Banana”

I grabbed some Cookies and Cream and some Butter Cream Toffee to test and both are good (who am I kidding? the Cookies and Cream is better than any I’ve tasted until now, it’s crazy good).

By |2015-01-31T16:52:19-07:00January 16th, 2015|Site or Store Stuff, Keto Chow, Ketogenic, Soylent|8 Comments
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First batches of Keto Chow using Dynamize protein

This entry is part 26 of 139 in the series Ketogenic Soylent

Last night I mixed up the first batches of Keto Chow using the Dynamize whey protein I’m going to start using. An adventurous soul ordered week of mint chocolate and I did two smaller 1-day batches of strawberry and mint chocolate for testing.

Keto Chow Strawberry Sample

Keto Chow Strawberry Sample

Upon mixing, the Strawberry is a little pink but not much, and the chocolate mint is a bit… tan. You can tell the difference between the chocolate and strawberry but I think the cream is overruling a lot of the coloring it would have had if it was just protein and water. I took better measurements of the finished result (2 lb 8 oz and 9x7x2.5 inches) which will make shipping estimates better. I’m also going to see if I can squeeze it into a 1096L USPS shipping box instead of a Regional Rate A box that I could fit two weeks in.

Keto Chow Chocolate Mint packaged (bottle not included =)

Keto Chow Chocolate Mint packaged (bottle not included =)

I tasted the results about an hour after mixing and it was pretty good. It tasted like it could still use some time for stuff to dissolve but in a time crunch it would be just fine. I would have tried it for realsies this morning but I’m going to get a “Comprehensive Metabolic Panel” blood test and I’m supposed to be fasting. As soon as that’s done (and I’m done with my dentist appointment that’s right after, might as well double up) I’ll give it a better taste test.

It’ll be interesting to see what my blood work shows when I get it sometime later this week or next week. I had it done back in March 2014 (9 months ago?) after doing People Chow for 2 months and those results weren’t bad at all. I’m looking forward to seeing what cutting out carbohydrates and living on mostly fat and some protein has done =).

By |2016-10-13T07:28:24-06:00January 6th, 2015|Keto Chow, Ketogenic, Soylent|Comments Off on First batches of Keto Chow using Dynamize protein
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