Question about whey.

[miss_thenorth]

I have an overabundance of whey right now, and was looking in the NT book, where it says that if consumed by the tablespoonful, it will aid in digestion, keep your joints movable, and ligaments elastic, etc.

Then i started reading on the internet the whey, as a byproduct of cheese making, is high in lactose. So, does this mean that a person who has a lactose intolerance will not be able to consume it? or has something been done to it ( and I am specifically talking about whey from kefir) so that it will be digestible for someone who is lactose intolerant. and no, it was not made from raw milk.

Also, is it also high in protein, where it could be used as a protein drink?

I just want to be able to use it all , instead of giving the bulk of it to the dogs and chickens.

eta, I can't find that specific info on the internet

 

[Neko-chan]

...

 

[freemotion]

I am very lactose intolerant but have no problem with whey from home cheesemaking (mesophilic method) and from kefir and yogurt. It doesn't matter if it starts with pastuerized milk, as long as it is not cooked AFTER and the live beasties are killed. They are what help you so much, so leave them intact for the health benefits.

As far as protein shakes go....they use dried, processed whey, which is neurotoxic. I never understood protein shakes....I'd rather just have a cheeseburger or a couple of eggs, myself. Or put some eggs into my shake for a quick meal.

I do end up pouring some whey into the compost pile (unless there are pigs out back!) because there is just too much of it here and I get tired of the sour taste. You can freeze it in ice cube trays and then bag the cube for use in ferments, shakes, and such if you don't have a regular supply of whey and don't want to use it all up in the next few days. It does often keep quite well in a jar in the fridge, though.

 

[miss_thenorth]

As far as protein shakes go....they use dried, processed whey, which is neurotoxic. I never understood protein shakes....I'd rather just have a cheeseburger or a couple of eggs, myself. Or put some eggs into my shake for a quick meal.

I meant drinking the liquid whey, after straining it, as a protein drink, say if ds does not want eggs for breakfast, will the whey be a suitable substitute for protein. (he is a growing boy, and we try to get protein in him at every meal--14yo and 6 ft)

So, you're saying that the whey, even though high in lactose, is suitable to drink for lactose intolerant people.

That is what I thought, since the whole fermenting of the kefir changes the composition of the milk, but just wanted to double check.

 

[freemotion]

As always, your mileage may vary, but this has been my experience personally. Sure, if he will drink the whey, it is far better than leaving the house on an empty stomach, for sure! But much of the protein from the milk is in the solids that separated out from the whey. Better a glass of whole milk, or some yogurt or kefir.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Thanks, he gets enough of that, I'm just thinking of ways to use up the whey. I usually strain the kefir to make other things, and thought if I made a smoothie with the whey instead, that it would still provide protein.

 

[AnnaRaven]

I have an overabundance of whey right now, and was looking in the NT book, where it says that if consumed by the tablespoonful, it will aid in digestion, keep your joints movable, and ligaments elastic, etc.

Then i started reading on the internet the whey, as a byproduct of cheese making, is high in lactose. So, does this mean that a person who has a lactose intolerance will not be able to consume it? or has something been done to it ( and I am specifically talking about whey from kefir) so that it will be digestible for someone who is lactose intolerant. and no, it was not made from raw milk.

Also, is it also high in protein, where it could be used as a protein drink?

I just want to be able to use it all , instead of giving the bulk of it to the dogs and chickens.

eta, I can't find that specific info on the internet

Make ricotta! That's where ricotta cheese comes from is the whey.

 

[freemotion]

But.....if you are lactose intolerant and bring the whey to 200F or more to make ricotta, you will kill the good beasties that make whey tolerable for the lactose intolerant person. And it takes a lot of whey to make a little ricotta. So, yes, AR, ricotta is a wonderful use for whey normally, but proceed with caution if lactose intolerant.

 

[AnnaRaven]

But.....if you are lactose intolerant and bring the whey to 200F or more to make ricotta, you will kill the good beasties that make whey tolerable for the lactose intolerant person. And it takes a lot of whey to make a little ricotta. So, yes, AR, ricotta is a wonderful use for whey normally, but proceed with caution if lactose intolerant.

I was always under the (perhaps mistaken) impression that once the beasties had done their work, the result was okay for lactose intolerant even if the beasties were killed off. Otherwise, why is it okay to use yogurt in baking, for example?

 

[freemotion]

Oh, hmmm, maybe ricotta from kefir whey would be ok, now that you say that. I've only experienced ricotta from mozzarella whey, and it is not cultured long enough for some people who are sensitive. And whole milk ricotta is not really cultured at all. I could never eat ricotta unless I made it myself from goat's milk, and even then, I limit my consumption and mostly eat mesophilic cheeses.