So I have begun to take my protein after my workouts with 8-10 oz. of Diet Dr Pepper. It gives it a Ice Cream Float flavor...no where near the real thing, but still a good way to ingest it with a low amount of additional calories added since I am currently cutting. (When I am bulking I will put a tbsp of natty pb, cup of milk, banana and three ice cubes in my shake).

My question is whether the carbonation does anything in terms of negating the protein composure? I certainly do not want to be throwing away perfectly good protein by unknowingly breaking it down to where it not use-able in the body as protein.

Any help here? Any Chemists or Biologists?

I'd be more concerned with the acid content of the soda more than anything - essentially Sodas are corrosive.

I doubt it much matters though - unless you're sipping the concoction over a long period (2 hours...) - I mix some of my protein with about 6 ounces of diet no-caffeine orange soda in the mornings and never thought twice about it.

Once it hits your stomach - your stomach is going to do what the soda would anyway. :tu:

I don't know about the diet dr. pepper. But I think it's important to get carbs in right after lifting, even while cutting. I used to just eat protein as well. But after some advice from people on this site, I am now having carbs in a 2-1 ratio to protein as my PWO while cutting. I center around my carbs around my pre-workout meal, the PWO, and a whole foods meal after the PWO. I eat carbs the rest of the day but minimally. Everything is factored into my macros. It's working for me; I'm still losing fat, and my muscles recover better and faster. I also feel better.

So I have begun to take my protein after my workouts with 8-10 oz. of Diet Dr Pepper. It gives it a Ice Cream Float flavor...no where near the real thing, but still a good way to ingest it with a low amount of additional calories added since I am currently cutting. (When I am bulking I will put a tbsp of natty pb, cup of milk, banana and three ice cubes in my shake).

My question is whether the carbonation does anything in terms of negating the protein composure? I certainly do not want to be throwing away perfectly good protein by unknowingly breaking it down to where it not use-able in the body as protein.

Any help here? Any Chemists or Biologists?

the soda is not gona be anywhere near as acidic as your stomach


it anything your protien will absorb faster, just like alchohol carbonation increases uptake speed

Some of the studies on the absorbtion of Glutamine by the muscles used carbonated soda to mix it in. SOme body builders I know use it for that reason.

Justitia,

That is interesting that you know bodybuilders who do this...reason being the person who suggested I mix my protein with diet DP was in fact a body builder, but he did not say anything about benefits of using carbonated beverages when taking the supplement. Sounds like there is no problems mixing it with carbonated bevs...just wanted to make sure the "FIZZ" did not de-nature the protein for some reason...

Thanks for all the input guys and gals!