 |
| WHY DOESN'T THIS EVER MIX WELL IN WATER?!?! |
Headache01 asks "Why doesn't powder mixed into drinks (like whey protein powders or cocoa) dissolve very well? It clumps into balls that are wet on the outside but remain dry on the inside. How can I make my whey mix better?"
Well, given that proteins, and especially mixture of proteins, are amphiphilic (meaning the molecule has a part with an affinity for water, and another for fat/oils), they tend to orient themselves into microscopic structures known as micelles. Micelles allow the molecules to isolate their lipophilic ends away from the water and their hydrophilic end towards water, ultimately forming a spherical, tubular, or sheetlike structure.
While micelles are a microscopic phenomena, a similar thing is what causes the clumps in your protein drink; along the protein powder-water interface there will be two-layer sheet type structures where the hydrophilic parts of the molecules are facing the water and the lipophilic parts stay away from it.
Wonder why you should avoid warm water when mixing powders? The heat causes the proteins to lose their secondary structure and become entangled with one another, making it difficult to break up the clump since the clump's outer surface has essentially polymerized. Thus, using cold water keeps the proteins tightly coiled and less likely to get entangled with each other.
I almost forgot! The solution is to wet each of the solid particles individually first before dispersing them (e.g. mix in a small amount of water to form a paste). This will ensure that they disperse well.
While micelles are a microscopic phenomena, a similar thing is what causes the clumps in your protein drink; along the protein powder-water interface there will be two-layer sheet type structures where the hydrophilic parts of the molecules are facing the water and the lipophilic parts stay away from it.
Wonder why you should avoid warm water when mixing powders? The heat causes the proteins to lose their secondary structure and become entangled with one another, making it difficult to break up the clump since the clump's outer surface has essentially polymerized. Thus, using cold water keeps the proteins tightly coiled and less likely to get entangled with each other.
I almost forgot! The solution is to wet each of the solid particles individually first before dispersing them (e.g. mix in a small amount of water to form a paste). This will ensure that they disperse well.
37 scientific replies:
I'll keep this in mind if I decide to start drinking the stuff.
I hear they aren't that great for your health though.
thanks a lot for this informative post. I'm very passionate about bodybuilding so I use protein powder a lot. I do notice that they dont dissolve well but didnt know why.
great answer! you're too smart
Thanks for the tips, I hate when my chocolate milk gets all lumpy, ruins the drink for me.
I use protein powder a lot. At first I tried to put the powder in the bowl, then put oats over it and pour milk over that shit. Turned out as you said, not dissolved but instead gross as f*ck
Great tip. I do use it, so will probably use the info here. Can science explain why it tastes awful?
Very helpful tip!
Also to make sure to learn how to stir the japanese way. Which is the most effective way to stir powders into liquid ever.
To everyone having trouble with their protein, here is your solution:
href="http://www.optimumnutrition.com/products/100-whey-gold-standard-p-201.html?zenid=906d3fbe95bee5eb3dd797a741b03681
It mixes well, and tastes great, the double rich chocolate does at least. Their casein protein however, no matter how you mix it is going to form a paste that when hardened, you could build your house out of.
Definitely paste technique is the best, though, for their whey. Start with the liquid (whole milk, the best, don't trip) add the powder, mix, then the rest of the milk.
Just this week, have started using the blender. Throwing some peanut butter in there, some fiber. Kind of complete meal, deal.
wooopsie
The way I do it is:
I have a milkshake maker thing, put it on full speed and slowly add my powder to it. Works like a charm and it isn't lumpy!
Lumps are the worst :(
didnt know i was supposed to use cold water.. lol
Solution? Eat the powder! Bu seriously...its been an issue of mine for many a month, trying to get a nice mixture of protein powder and water/milk. Usually the anger makes me perform better in the gym, but, ill consider using your solution to the problem. xD
Yay, I now know how to mix protein shakes :D
You certainly know your thing.
i showed your blog a friend of mine how studys this kind of thing (i cant remember how its called) and he is impressed how good you know about your subjec
+1
Good stuff, now show me how I can make it taste better lol!
Great post with a scientific touch. Answered most of my questions.
I never take this stuff. seems scary
interesting, i never take protein powders but my brother does, i gotta show him this
I have a little wire ball in my shaker that breaks apart all the clumps for me :D
ahhh, its all so simple. now its time to get ripped, and not deal with clumps in my shake. huzzah!
Damn that's a sweet trick. I'm gonna lie and say that was the only barrier to me not looking like a greek god. Ewww clumpies, get awaaaaayyyyyy!
I'm manly, I promise.
I want to marry a woman as smart as you
'S why I use cold water, yo.
Admittedly I've got enough mass, no need for protein or whey or anythin' like that.
Interesting tip, my girlfriend sometimes gets lumps in her protein smoothie, I should show her that trick. (I semi-sift protein powder, then stir while I pour it in)
protein powder??
no thanks
ill have some meat n shit instead...
Hmmm...very interesting! You learn something new every day!
very usefull info, but i don't really take proteins in powderform
mixing it into a paste first really works!
wow, I learned something very useful today! Although in my opinion protein powder is far too dense, at least for me... When I have gregarious amounts of protein too fast, It makes me take big poops. XD
I enjoy my protein shakes shaken, not stirred. Haha
i have to agree with fabfawk
So that is why my mixes keep getting all tangled up D:, so cold water and form a paste and then add the rest, gotcha makes sense , knowing how they tend to pile up with temperature :D
I drink at least a shake a day usually.
I don't believe protein powders help that much, but then again the body builders say it helps.
informative post, never knew about the warm/cold water thing.
Post a Comment