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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 4, 2015 10:59 PM IST
Hi. My name is Nishant. I ve heard that whey protein is great for building muscle but it comes with a lot of side-effects. Basically, I am afraid of all sorts of fitness supplements but I want to bulk up. Should I drink whey protein? Please tell me the side-effects of it.
Whey is simply a byproduct of cheese production. But, whey protein on the other hand usually comes in three forms: concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate. The first one isn't very popular because it doesn t come in flavours while isolate has less fat and contains 90% whey protein by weight. In the case of hydrolysate, it is pre-digested and acts very fast. On the down side, it s very expensive an usually out of reach for normal gym-goers.
Now, like everything else, whey protein too has some side-effects. Since it mainly consists of protein, overconsumption can lead to kidney stone formation. Also excess protein can put too much pressure on your liver which needs to work overtime to integrate it into your system.
Some studies suggest that high protein presence in the body might lead to mineral imbalance which can cause the loss of mineral bone density and of course, the high lactose content might lead to constipation. Also people with lactose intolerance need to avoid whey protein and should instead consume soy proteins. Read some facts about protein powders.
What you need to essentially understand is that whey proteins or any supplements for that matter are not magic beans, which will instantly give you your dream body. Many of the side-effects of supplements are also caused due to unhealthy eating habits and overconsumption. Personal trainer Anil Bailu told us: Whey proteins are absolutely essential for gym regulars. It replenishes the energy that has been sapped away during work outs and provides the body with much needed proteins. It plays a fundamental role in muscle growth and repair though one should eat natural proteins like fish, chicken, turkey, soya, almonds as well. Whey protein is a supplement and it shouldn t be a substitute for real food but treated as a supplement . You may also want to read 6 protein sources for vegetarians.
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