Special K Protein Plus

[JennyJ]

Since I'm trying to step into more of a maintenance way of eating, I'm going to add in a grain. I stumbled upon this new cereal yesterday and it only has 9 net carbs per serving. If I try it, my plan will be to add it in very slowly to see how I do and if tolerated, I would alternate it with steel cut oatmeal every now and then. Anyone on maintenance try it yet? Have you had any problems with it?

[CarmenT]

I've been using it now and again since it came out. It's decent with the Hood's "milk". My usual is Kellogg's All-Bran with Extra Fiber though, prepped as a hot cereal with enough hot water over it to soften and make it fall apart, then sweetener and cinnamon and a bit of half and half.

[RVcook]

I've had it. It's OK, but kind of wimpy in comparison to my Fiber One that I add flaxseed, vanilla protein powder and almonds to. I guess I just prefer a cereal with more "bulk!"

[JennyJ]

I've tried Fiber One in the past and though I liked it, it just tore my stomach apart with all of that fiber.

[wifezilla]

Commercial breakfast cereal is basically junk food. Low carb or not, the extruding process kills off all the vitamins and good stuff and turns it in to crunchy toxic waste.

"Packaged Cereals
Dry breakfast cereals are produced by a process called extrusion. Cereal makers first create a slurry of the grains and then put them in a machine called an extruder. The grains are forced out of a little hole at high temperature and pressure. Depending on the shape of the hole, the grains are made into little o's, flakes, animal shapes, or shreds (as in Shredded Wheat or Triscuits), or they are puffed (as in puffed rice). A blade slices off each little flake or shape, which is then carried past a nozzle and sprayed with a coating of oil and sugar to seal off the cereal from the ravages of milk and to give it crunch.

In his book Fighting the Food Giants, Paul Stitt has tells us that the extrusion process used for these cereals destroys most of the nutrients in the grains. It destroys the fatty acids; it even destroys the chemical vitamins that are added at the end. The amino acids are rendered very toxic by this process. The amino acid lysine, a crucial nutrient, is especially denatured by extrusion. This is how all the boxed cereals are made, even the ones sold in the health food stores. They are all made in the same way and mostly in the same factories. All dry cereals that come in boxes are extruded cereals.

The only advances made in the extrusion process are those that will cut cost regardless of how these will alter the nutrient content of the product. Cereals are a multi-billion dollar business, one that has created huge fortunes.

With so many people eating breakfast cereals, you might expect to find some studies on the effect of extruded cereals on animals or humans. Yet, there are no published studies at all in the scientific literature.

The Rat Experiments
Let me tell you about two studies which were not published. The first was described by Paul Stitt who wrote about an experiment conducted by a cereal company in which four sets of rats were given special diets. One group received plain whole wheat, water and synthetic vitamins and minerals. A second group received puffed wheat (an extruded cereal), water and the same nutrient solution. A third set was given only water. A fourth set was given nothing but water and chemical nutrients. The rats that received the whole wheat lived over a year on this diet. The rats that got nothing but water and vitamins lived about two months. The animals on water alone lived about a month. But the company's own laboratory study showed that the rats given the vitamins, water and all the puffed wheat they wanted died within two weeks---they died before the rats that got no food at all. It wasn't a matter of the rats dying of malnutrition. Autopsy revealed dysfunction of the pancreas, liver and kidneys and degeneration of the nerves of the spine, all signs of insulin shock.

Results like these suggested that there was something actually very toxic in the puffed wheat itself! Proteins are very similar to certain toxins in molecular structure, and the pressure of the puffing process may produce chemical changes, which turn a nutritious grain into a poisonous substance.

Another unpublished experiment was carried out in the 1960s. Researchers at Ann Arbor University were given 18 laboratory rats. They were divided into three groups: one group received corn flakes and water; a second group was given the cardboard box that the corn flakes came in and water; the control group received rat chow and water. The rats in the control group remained in good health throughout the experiment. The rats eating the box became lethargic and eventually died of malnutrition. But the rats receiving the corn flakes and water died before the rats that were eating the box! (The last corn flake rat died the day the first box rat died.) But before death, the corn flake rats developed schizophrenic behavior, threw fits, bit each other and finally went into convulsions. The startling conclusion of this study is that there was more nourishment in the box than there was in the corn flakes.

This experiment was actually designed as a joke, but the results were far from funny. The results were never published and similar studies have not been conducted.

Most of America eats this kind of cereal. In fact, the USDA is gloating over the fact that children today get the vast majority of their important nutrients from the nutrients added to these boxed cereals.

Cereals sold in the health food stores are made by the same method. It may come as a shock to you, but these whole grain extruded cereals are probably more dangerous than those sold in the supermarket, because they are higher in protein and it is the proteins in these cereals that are so denatured by this type of processing.

There are no published studies on the effects of these extruded grains on animals or humans, but I did find one study in a literature search that described the microscopic effects of extrusion on the proteins. "Zeins," which comprise the majority of proteins in corn, are located in spherical organelles called protein bodies. During extrusion, these protein bodies are completely disrupted and deformed. The extrusion process breaks down the organelles, disperses the proteins and the proteins become toxic. When they are disrupted in this way, you have absolute chaos in your food, and it can result in a disruption of the nervous system."
Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry

[RVcook]

Originally Posted by JennyJ

I've tried Fiber One in the past and though I liked it, it just tore my stomach apart with all of that fiber.

Ahem...yes...I guess all that fiber can be overwhelming for some... If you're trying to work up the "fiber" ladder with breakfast, you may want to mix some of your Special K with the Fiber One. Or, what we really like at our house is Kashi Go Lean mixed 50/50 with the Fiber One. A good quantity of fiber along with a variety of textures and good taste. (Have you guessed that I use the Fiber One mostly for the fiber?...)

[RVcook]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

Commercial breakfast cereal is basically junk food. Low carb or not, the extruding process kills off all the vitamins and good stuff and turns it in to crunchy toxic waste.

"Packaged Cereals
Dry breakfast cereals are produced by a process called extrusion. Cereal makers first create a slurry of the grains and then put them in a machine called an extruder. The grains are forced out of a little hole at high temperature and pressure. Depending on the shape of the hole, the grains are made into little o's, flakes, animal shapes, or shreds (as in Shredded Wheat or Triscuits), or they are puffed (as in puffed rice). A blade slices off each little flake or shape, which is then carried past a nozzle and sprayed with a coating of oil and sugar to seal off the cereal from the ravages of milk and to give it crunch.

In his book Fighting the Food Giants, Paul Stitt has tells us that the extrusion process used for these cereals destroys most of the nutrients in the grains. It destroys the fatty acids; it even destroys the chemical vitamins that are added at the end. The amino acids are rendered very toxic by this process. The amino acid lysine, a crucial nutrient, is especially denatured by extrusion. This is how all the boxed cereals are made, even the ones sold in the health food stores. They are all made in the same way and mostly in the same factories. All dry cereals that come in boxes are extruded cereals.

The only advances made in the extrusion process are those that will cut cost regardless of how these will alter the nutrient content of the product. Cereals are a multi-billion dollar business, one that has created huge fortunes.

With so many people eating breakfast cereals, you might expect to find some studies on the effect of extruded cereals on animals or humans. Yet, there are no published studies at all in the scientific literature.

The Rat Experiments
Let me tell you about two studies which were not published. The first was described by Paul Stitt who wrote about an experiment conducted by a cereal company in which four sets of rats were given special diets. One group received plain whole wheat, water and synthetic vitamins and minerals. A second group received puffed wheat (an extruded cereal), water and the same nutrient solution. A third set was given only water. A fourth set was given nothing but water and chemical nutrients. The rats that received the whole wheat lived over a year on this diet. The rats that got nothing but water and vitamins lived about two months. The animals on water alone lived about a month. But the company's own laboratory study showed that the rats given the vitamins, water and all the puffed wheat they wanted died within two weeks---they died before the rats that got no food at all. It wasn't a matter of the rats dying of malnutrition. Autopsy revealed dysfunction of the pancreas, liver and kidneys and degeneration of the nerves of the spine, all signs of insulin shock.

Results like these suggested that there was something actually very toxic in the puffed wheat itself! Proteins are very similar to certain toxins in molecular structure, and the pressure of the puffing process may produce chemical changes, which turn a nutritious grain into a poisonous substance.

Another unpublished experiment was carried out in the 1960s. Researchers at Ann Arbor University were given 18 laboratory rats. They were divided into three groups: one group received corn flakes and water; a second group was given the cardboard box that the corn flakes came in and water; the control group received rat chow and water. The rats in the control group remained in good health throughout the experiment. The rats eating the box became lethargic and eventually died of malnutrition. But the rats receiving the corn flakes and water died before the rats that were eating the box! (The last corn flake rat died the day the first box rat died.) But before death, the corn flake rats developed schizophrenic behavior, threw fits, bit each other and finally went into convulsions. The startling conclusion of this study is that there was more nourishment in the box than there was in the corn flakes.

This experiment was actually designed as a joke, but the results were far from funny. The results were never published and similar studies have not been conducted.

Most of America eats this kind of cereal. In fact, the USDA is gloating over the fact that children today get the vast majority of their important nutrients from the nutrients added to these boxed cereals.

Cereals sold in the health food stores are made by the same method. It may come as a shock to you, but these whole grain extruded cereals are probably more dangerous than those sold in the supermarket, because they are higher in protein and it is the proteins in these cereals that are so denatured by this type of processing.

There are no published studies on the effects of these extruded grains on animals or humans, but I did find one study in a literature search that described the microscopic effects of extrusion on the proteins. "Zeins," which comprise the majority of proteins in corn, are located in spherical organelles called protein bodies. During extrusion, these protein bodies are completely disrupted and deformed. The extrusion process breaks down the organelles, disperses the proteins and the proteins become toxic. When they are disrupted in this way, you have absolute chaos in your food, and it can result in a disruption of the nervous system."
Dirty Secrets of the Food Processing Industry

...alrighty then...

[momov2boys]

I wasn't thrilled with all of the ingredients in the Protein Plus, Special K.
It sure tasted good, though--too easy for me to overeat.

I'm now including Uncle Sam cereal and Fiber One.
(I've also purchased steel cut oats to try).

[fawn]

You know Jenny, Wifezilla is correct.
To sum up her contribution, any and all proteins in cereals are denatured and potentially rancid after the high heats of extrusion. It is a non-nutrient dense food. (and i use the word food very lightly) Even the so called "natural cereals" at your health food store are junk.

How about the Lydias raw grainless cereal? It's handmade, nutrient dense and though expensive, worth every penny. You can add it to yogurt with some blueberries.

Though I discourage these foods, it is definitely up to you....I just want to share the information I have.

[wifezilla]

Yeah...go ahead and eat it if you want. You're grown Just don't so it under the illusion that it is in any way healthy.

Hey Fawn, what about steel cut oats? The South Beachers really seem to love that stuff.

[RVcook]

Originally Posted by fawn

You know Jenny, Wifezilla is correct.
To sum up her contribution, any and all proteins in cereals are denatured and potentially rancid after the high heats of extrusion.

For years, denatured protein has been a topic of discussion. Essentially, unless you eat all protein in its raw state, ALL proteins are denatured by cooking. This would, of course, also apply to chicken, beef, pork, fish and eggs as well...organic or not.

I do however, agree that there are plenty of more healthful "food" choices out there, but we do all have to make our own choices. And even the word healthful is suspect these days...

Just my two cents

[fawn]

This is why I'm very careful Donna about how I cook my proteins.
And, as I stated to Jenny, I am giving her information to form her own opinion and make an educated decision.

healthful is consuming foods as close to their natural state as you can get.

Wifezilla
I think steel cut oats are a good grain....a little flax meal sprinkled over heavy cream and chopped walnuts? It's a winner.

[JennyJ]

Originally Posted by fawn

You know Jenny, Wifezilla is correct.
To sum up her contribution, any and all proteins in cereals are denatured and potentially rancid after the high heats of extrusion. It is a non-nutrient dense food. (and i use the word food very lightly) Even the so called "natural cereals" at your health food store are junk.

How about the Lydias raw grainless cereal? It's handmade, nutrient dense and though expensive, worth every penny. You can add it to yogurt with some blueberries.

Though I discourage these foods, it is definitely up to you....I just want to share the information I have.

Good morning! I loved Lydia's and bought all three different kinds of cereal but found that it, too, gave me horrible stomach pain. Remember when I thought I was having a reaction to Splenda? After some trial and error I found it was the cereal. I've eliminated it from my diet and I've been fine ever since. Can't figure it out and I'm sad cause I really liked it!

P.S. I welcome all information ~ what I want to hear and what I don't. I like to be knowledgable about what I'm choosing to eat, so please add your 2 cents on what you've learned! Thank you to everyone who is willing to educate me! :-)

[wifezilla]

For the record, although I may grill my steaks, fry my eggs and bake my chicken, I have never cooked them up in to a mush and forced them through a little nozzle at high heat and pressure to make them in to weird shapes, then sprayed them with fat and high fructose corn syrup. (Humm..is that how McDonald's makes "nuggets"?)

Steel cut oats with flax, chopped walnuts and cream does sound like a good cereal alternative. That most likely will get a better reception that "no cereal for you!"

LOL

[RVcook]

Originally Posted by wifezilla

For the record, although I may grill my steaks, fry my eggs and bake my chicken, I have never cooked them up in to a mush and forced them through a little nozzle at high heat and pressure to make them in to weird shapes, then sprayed them with fat and high fructose corn syrup. (Humm..is that how McDonald's makes "nuggets"?)

I'm with ya there!...

[jacksmixedtape]

A great quick hot cereal consists of 1 egg, 1 scoop whey protein powder, and 1/4c milk sub or cream. Nuke it for 1:30, whisking every ten seconds until it magically turns into cream of wheat. Very low carb.

[momov2boys]

Uncle Sam cereal ingredients:

Whole Wheat Kernels, Whole Flaxseed, Salt, Barley Malt, Niacin, Riboflavin (Vitamin B1), Thiamin Mononitrate (Vitamin B2).

While perhaps not a perfectly whole food, it's a rather healthy choice, in my opinion.

Sure beats Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops; KWIM?

[TaDa!]

I'm interested in that cereal ... rancid or no, lol! Jenny, do you happen to have a calorie count for it? Thanks!!! I think a lot of us are trying to add good grains, lol ... it is sooooo not easy!!!

[JennyJ]

Originally Posted by TaDa!

I'm interested in that cereal ... rancid or no, lol! Jenny, do you happen to have a calorie count for it? Thanks!!! I think a lot of us are trying to add good grains, lol ... it is sooooo not easy!!!

I just looked it up and it says there are 100 calories for 3/4 cup.

[TaDa!]

Thanks so much Jenny! I'm definitely going to check it out! I've been having cheerios which is 50 cals per 1/2 cup and about 10 net carbs.

[momov2boys]

Just so you know, the Special K Protein Plus cereal contains both sugar and HFCS.

[JennyJ]

Originally Posted by momov2boys

Just so you know, the Special K Protein Plus cereal contains both sugar and HFCS.

Say it ain't so!!!!! Please?? I don't mind the 2 grams of sugar per serving because I really don't think that for the amount I would be eating that it would cause me any problems (3/4 cup maybe twice a week), but HFCS????? Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

[wifezilla]

That evil junk is in EVERYTHING these days!

[Dog New Tricks]

Originally Posted by JennyJ

Say it ain't so!!!!! Please?? I don't mind the 2 grams of sugar per serving because I really don't think that for the amount I would be eating that it would cause me any problems (3/4 cup maybe twice a week), but HFCS????? Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

I really like Special K, and I definitely wouldn't give it up b/c of HFCS. It really isn't worse for you than sugar, and having it every now and then won't hurt you.

[fawn]

I encourage you to read the whole article.....There will be few people here that you can convince the lack of danger in HFCS.

The Murky World of High-Fructose Corn S