bad effects from Carnation Instant Breakfast

I have been mildly lactose intolerant for a long time. I discovered this about 10-15 years ago when I tried SlimFast three times a day. I say "mildly" intolerant, because my first 8 ounces of milk per day is absolutely no problem at all. It's only when I have more than that later on that I am sure to have my LactAid with me.

I had no problem with the protein shakes pre-op, and I made sure to make them with lactose-free skim milk -- which is a LOT easier to get now than 10 years ago! But post-op, I really get revolted by the texture of the protein drinks, so I have hardly had any at all.

I'm now 3 weeks out, and not getting as much protein as I should. A few posters have suggested the No Sugar Added Carnation Instant Breakfast, which sounds like a great idea. Here's where it gets weird. On three separate occasions in the past week, I've tried to have a glass of the stuff, but my stomach starts churning and making really disgusting sounds by the time I get to the fourth ounce! And this is even though I made it with lactose-free milk !!!! What's going on?

[[[ ... short interlude while I go read the label on the box in search of clues ... ]]]

The first thing I see is the the very first ingredient in the Instant Breakfast (by the way, it's called "Breakfast Essentials" now) is nonfat milk. I suppose it is possible that that's what's giving me this lactose reaction, but even if I'm more intolerant than I had been before, how much lactose could be in the powder?

But then something tells me to look at the sugar. Eight ounces of this milk has 16 grams of sugar, and there's another 7 grams in the powder. (Apparently, even this "No Sugar Added" version has seven grams of naturally occurring sugar in the nonfat milk ingredient.) That means there's 23 grams of sugar in my glass!

Could I be having a dumping episode?

It is milk based before you ever add any to it.

 hmmmm.... possibly on the dumping but unless you were also having other symptoms, I would say no. I dump on a certain threshold of naturally occurring sugars (fructose); some fruit doesn't bother me but once I get over that limit, I dump! Like, heart palpitations, weakness, cold/hot sweats, nausea, dizzy, tummy troubles, etc.
So the likelier culprit would be the lactose. I'd been lactose intolerant since childhood and thought it went away postop but it came back, just in a milder form. Gassy, gurgles.... you know the drill! I find the protein powders make with whey isolate give me no problem and I mix them with s/f soy milk for a creamy taste.... sometimes it's really worth the money not to be gassy!

How much lactose is in the powder depends on how it was processed.  Many of the more specialized protein powders people here use have had the lactose removed during processing.  I don't understand the process... just know what I read on the labels and in the marketing literature, LOL.

No, the reaction doesn;t sound like dumping.  Dumping involves a whole series of symptoms like shakiness, racing heart, dizziness, nausea, cramping, and often diarrhea,   What you have sounds like something just does not agree with you, and the lactose intolerance issue would be the top suspect.

Lora

23 grams of sugar in one sitting is a lot. Have you tried a vanilla based protein and adding different flavors to it? I am not sure how much Lactaid is but you can also try making it with Unsweetened Almond milk. When, I was first out I used that b/c after surgery the shakes I made with milk seemed way to thick. You really need to find a protein that works for you, it is so important. Good luck.

there is lactose in the Carnation.  Even if you use the no sugar added, it has natural sugar in the form of lactose because it is made with milk. 

You need a lactose free protein shake.  Like, one made from whey isolate or soy isolate.

The sugar in Carnation is from the milk.  Even though you used to be able to drink 8 oz. of milk prior to surgery that may have changed.  I was not lactose intolerant before surgery but I am now.  I can not drink milk.  I can eat cheese and yogurt though.

Thanks everybody! Another experimental food going in the trash! (That was an exaggeration - maybe I'll do better with it a few months from now.)

I'm going to have to remember this in the threads about "How to plan ahead for my RNY". I've bought a lot of stuff that ended up disagreeing with me. Fortunately, I'm eating so little nowadays that my grocery bill is still getting smaller, despite these experiments.

Hi Keeves,

When looking at the list of ingredients for Breakfast Essentials I noticed that it had no whey protein isolate or soy protein isolate as Kelly said above. This type of protein contains the amino acids we RNYers need. On the bright side, the lactose intolerance might have been a good thing in your case because it forced a change to hopefully a better choice.  www.vitalady.com sells small samples you can try, so that you don't spend a fortune trying to find a brand or flavor that works for you.

Kat

INGREDIENTS FOR BREAKFAST ESSENTIALS
NONFAT MILK, SUGAR, WATER, AND LESS THAN 2% OF COMPLETE MILK PROTEIN, CORN OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, MAGNESIUM PHOSPHATE, TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, CARAMEL COLOR, DATEM, NATURAL FLAVORS (CONTAINS BARLEY), MALTODEXTRIN, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE, SODIUM ASCORBATE (VITAMIN C), SALT, CARRAGEENAN, POTASSIUM IODIDE, FERRIC ORTHOPHOSPHATE (IRON), VITAMIN E ACETATE, SUCRALOSE, NIACINAMIDE, ZINC OXIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE (PANTOTHENIC ACID), COPPER GLUCONATE, MANGANESE SULFATE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B₆), RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACID, BIOTIN, PHYLLOQUINONE (VITAMIN K), VITAMIN D₃, VITAMIN B₁₂.

 

I am still in the initial steps moving toward surgery,but I've been trying different foods to set me up for success. Isopure Zero Carb vanilla (they have many flavors) is a great whey protein, LOTS of protein per serving. I mix it in the blender with ice & water if I want it thick or in a shaker with water for thinner consistency. It's a great meal replacement right now as I try to lose the required pre-surgery weight.
They also make a "low-carb" (3 grams I believe) dutch chocolate which is also delish! I order mine from GNC.com, or limited flavors can be purchased locally sometimes. Give it a try!