Q. How to avoid foam formation while mixing the whey protein?
Ans. Please allow us to inform you that proteins are made of long chains of amino acids tightly coiled by weak bonds. When protein is stirred vigorously, its bonds loosen, and the chain partly unwinds. As the protein unwinds, hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends get exposed. The hydrophobic ends reach for the air, while the hydrophilic ends stay in the water, and then the proteins coagulate in a structure that holds onto air bubbles.
So basically when water is poured on protein powder and you start shaking it with full strength, the foam occurs, science behind it has been explained above.
So how can it be avoided, since too much of a frothy shake carries air and when inhaled can cause bloating and gas. Below are some of the methods to avoid a foamy shake
(1) Don’t Use A Shaker Or A Blender
If you’re using a protein shake that’s prone to frothiness, the worst thing you can do is to shake it up with a shaker or a blender. It’s much better to place the powder into a shaker and mix it up with a fork or a spoon until it completely dissolves. This will never create any foam if its done slowly.
(2) Prepare Your Shake Before Your Workout
Another option is to prepare your shake before you begin your workout so that you allow plenty of time for the foam to disappear. This is a really good idea if you are using a powder that doesn’t mix very well and requires a lot of shaking in order to remove all the lumps.
(3) Dissolve The Powder In A Small Amount Of Water
One more method that seems to work fairly well is to put a tiny amount of water into a shaker and mix it up with the powder until it dissolves. This will create a lot less froth and you can then just top it up with the required amount of water once it has settled.
(4) Use Water Instead Of Milk
The final recommendation is to use water instead of milk. Milk-based shakes are obviously a lot harder to mix and will require a lot more shaking, therefore creating a lot more foam. So you may find that this solves the problem, but if not, you might have to use one of the methods above.
