Training & Nutrition - of protein..

what's the deal with protein powders compared to
real food? In particular, whey protein, what i'm wondering,
is, are three scoops really the equivalent to eating half
a chicken?? Basically a scoop is ~23grams of 'protein'.
But is it 'real' protein?? If so, if not, what's the difference?
many thanks for any help in clarifying this for me, i realize
by reading the labels that most powders contain amazing
things that, until now, only existed on mars and are proven
to not only grow strength, but also contribute to always having
a favorable tailwind and better car gas milage just by consuming
four servings before and after meals.. but really, is it the same
as a dead piece of meat..nutritionally??

Whey comes from milk ... so yes, it is a real protein.

Whey protein is a dietary supplement, not replacement. So please do not compare it to real foods.

Whey protein is a dietary supplement, not replacement. So please do not compare it to real foods.

What is it about whey protein that makes it not real?

Proteins can be graded according to how complete they are with respect to the essential amino acids. For example, peanut protein contains large amounts of non-essential amino acids and is therefore a low-grade protein. Whey is rated 1.0.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDCAAS

what's the deal with protein powders compared to
real food?The "deal" is -- normally most animal proteins are bound to considerable quantities of fats. Even inside your body, protein requires "fat coverings" for mixing and transport among tissues and cells.

Many artificial protein formulas have all of the moisture removed as well as most of the fat. Hence, a couple of scoops can provide a large amount of protein compared to "normal foods."

Vegetable proteins are usually bound to starches/fiber as well as some fat. They typically are healthier for you because of the "kind of fat" that they bind to. However, both vegetable and animal proteins still require some fat for transport.

Genreally, you can get all the protein you need from your diet. Good, healthy sources are tuna, salmon, chicken, low fat cuts of beef, turkey, and soy products. Additionally, it can be found in fairly substantial quantities in items such as peanut butter and beans and lentils. These foods will provide you not only with protein , but with vitamins and minerals that your body needs to properly use the protein.
Protein powders are pretty much stripped of everything except the protein, and then artificial sweetners are added to a lot of them to make them palatable. They can serve a purpose if your diet does not provide you with enough protein (which for most of us on this board, 100 grams to 150 grams each day should be more than enough), but you are generally better off getting it the old fashioned way.

I've been taking protein shakes for almost a year now, i buy fairly high grade ISO whey protein, the ISO meaning that it's isolated, or pure protein. With as little sugar, carb's, fat, cholesterol, etc as possible. I beileve there are however some BCAA (branched chain amino acids) which helps your muscles use the protein from what i'm told. I still eat my fair share of extra lean ground beef, and steak, but i don't eat fish, or many vegtables so i also take vitamins aswell. Really my only other food groups are cereals, and pasta. For me the protein shake mixe's in well with my odd diet, taking protein right after a workout is usualy the best time to help build up muscle in your legs. Not to say it's only for bulking up, if you're mostly doing aerobic workouts it can help to tone your muscle's by thickening them and reducing the amount of fat in your muscles.