Tokkyo Protein & Table Sugar?

By Christian Duque

 

One of the most frequently asked questions I’m getting from folks all around the world is this – can Tokkyo Protein be enhanced with table sugar? The concept is not a novel one. Many lifters are not satisfied with just having a protein drink after their workouts. While it is true that milk contains lactose, a sugar, most whey protein powders are stripped of it. Powders today are generally low carb (or in some cases totally carb-free). The reason for this is simple; many athletes need supplements that are versatile. Some athletes are on a bulk (dirty or clean), others are in contest prep, and some might be at the show. Protein powders are purposely produced low in fat & low in carbs. For the athlete in the off-season or not close to a contest, the body will want all the nutrients. Therefore, it’s not uncalled for or wrong to add some peanut butter (for fats) or even some table sugar (for simple sugars) to your post-training shake.

Critics will be quick to point out that simple sugars may wreak unnecessary havoc on insulin levels. The upside to this argument is that simple sugars will help the protein get to the muscle faster & give the athlete a kick, in terms of energy. Normally, athletes eat very soon after training. Some have their meals waiting for them in tupperware in the car; others head home or to restaurants. If the lifter will get food soon after the sweetened shake, then sugar won’t be a problem in terms of insulin-release (in my non-medical, basic gymrat opinion). If there is no food soon afterwards, based how my body would respond, I’d opt for a complex carb not a simple one. You’ll still get slow-released energy without the crash of simple sugars.

Complex carbs are generally the better choice for all the obvious reasons. A good complex carb source would be oatmeal, rice powder, or sweet potato puree. None of these options sound even remotely as tasty as a Snickers, Three Musketeer’s, or a couple Twix bars blended into your shake, but you’ll feel 10x better.