The Effects Of Using Whey Protein As A Supplement
Whey Protein comes from milk and makes up around 20% of its protein. The other 80% is called casein which is an ingredient in some other protein supplements. The whey must undergo several isolation processes to separate it from the milk itself.
If whey protein is pure, then you should be able to consume it without being effected by most of the allergies associated with milk as the triggers for most of these are in casein, however whey has still been known to trigger reactions caused by lactose intolerance.
So we all know that whey protein can provide invaluable assistance when it comes to losing weight or gaining muscle, but is there such a thing as too much whey? Of course there is, but how much is too much? What are the side effects? Well, a lot of doctors would urge caution when using protein supplements because there are some unpleasant side effects, one is particularly not nice.
The irony about one of the side effects in particular, is that working out and building your muscles too much and too quickly can result in not being able to work out at all. This is a risk you face if you develop gout, one of the nastier side effects of whey protein, but it is fairly easily avoidable.
Gout is developed if you take far too much of any protein supplement. What happens is basically the body doesn’t quite know what to do with all the protein that its being force fed, so the protein crystallises itself and then settles on your muscles, joints and tendons as uric acid. It will usually start in your big toes and make its way up your feet and legs, making joints and muscles, stiff, painful and brittle.
Excess protein can also cause damage to the kidneys and liver, but as long as you’re sensible with your intake of whey protein, it shouldn’t be a problem. However different people require different amounts of whey for it to have the desired effect and there are many factors to take into account when calculating how much is right for you, but the most dominant factor is body mass. Its probably worth a chat with your doctor before you start using whey supplements.
So whey protein, we can conclude, is an effective source of protein for your body to lose unwanted fat or gain some lean muscle, but you should always do all the research you can before you start using supplements of any kind to make sure you wont be troubled by unwanted side-effects.