Whey Protein Side Effects: An Inconvenient Truth?
Everything in life has two sides: the upside, and the downside. Whey protein supplements are no exception. Whey protein side effects are cause for concern for a lot of people considering supplementing with whey protein, and knowing the facts can help them make more informed choices about whether or not it’s right, or even safe, for them to use whey protein supplements.
Big Whey Protein Side Effects?
Most mainstream health experts will advise the normal person to take the regular recommended daily allowance of protein (RDA) and no more. Experts inside athletics who’re better placed to know what the body can take, and what the needs of the body are, say the RDA of the government is completely unfounded. Athletes trying to gain muscle mass or lose fat – the most common reasons for supplementing with whey protein – benefit substantially by increasing protein intake.
Health problems from over consumption only tend to arise when an individual is grossly over consuming, and is sedentary. Individuals in training need far more of all nutrients to remain healthy and prevent malnourishment.
Bare in mind that the fittest, healthiest people in the world are top-flight athletes, who are known for their incredibly high protein diets, which are essential to helping them stay at the top. If anyone were to suffer whey protein side effects, it would surely be these people – yet if they did, their health wouldn’t permit them to be at the top. Go figure.
What about the liver and kidneys?
A lot of people are concerned over what type of effects a high protein diet can have on the liver and kidneys over the long term. Again, claims which are unfounded and based on mere speculation than hard fact. However, mud sticks.
To be sure, some people who have existing kidney problems should already be aware of the fact they have to watch what they eat, and this may affect their protein intake. And, they may also be aware of the fact the higher the quality of the protein, and the quicker it is digested, the safer it is to take as it results in lower metabolic waste and residue. Whey protein side effects compared with side effects of other protein are therefore sure to be lesser. Whey protein would make an ideal choice, in this case.
Another important thing to bare in mind is how much water a person takes in. Most people are dehydrated to some degree every day of their lives. Drinking water flushes out toxins and cleans the kidneys, and people on high protein diets tend to agree taking in more water is a good idea; if it weren’t already!
What about the stomach?
Without doubt, the most common complaint – and only legitimate, verifiable of all supposed whey protein side effects – is the possible gastric discomfort some may experience.
Whey protein is derived from cheese making, and cheese from milk. And milk contains lactose (milk sugars). Therefore, whey protein also contains a degree of lactose; lower purity whey protein concentrate containing the most lactose, with whey isolate and whey hydrolysate having most of it filtered out.
People who are lactose intolerant may therefore experience the some discomfort from using whey as they would from consuming dairy.
Some whey protein supplements do contain lactase enzymes, but if you are lactose intolerant your best bet is to go for a whey isolate which is very low in lactose – barely trace amounts – and/or take lactase enzymes, too.
Of course, if a person experiences discomfort, this will cease upon stopping supplementing with whey protein, and the problems are very temporary.
Conclusion
Whey protein is used worldwide as a supplement, and whey protein side effects are more myth and ‘possibilities’ than hard fact; just as it’s possible that drinking water from the tap with all of the fluoride will cause negative effects in the long term, and so forth. On the whole, people all throughout the world are undernourished rather than over nourished. And, our bodies are more adept at taking care of excesses than they are at dealing with malnourishment. Eating plenty of healthy whole foods, and sensible supplemention with whey protein and taking good, regular exercise is the way to stay healthy. Serious and lasting whey protein side effects aren’t known to exist, and whey protein is the most widely used sporting supplement worldwide, known to have tremendous health benefits, and undoubtedly even a hint of danger would result in it being labelled as a dangerous supplement or banned. Until then – it’s completely safe, just as countless studies and millions of regular users worldwide verify it to be.
