The Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Whey Protein

The Health Benefits And Side Effects Of Whey Protein

When it comes to weight loss and building muscle you must consume lots of protein.

While eating chicken breast, turkey, tuna and eggs is critical for your dieting success, in order to get the best outcomes you should be consuming whey protein.

Time out! Isn’t whey protein what all those bodybuilders and athletes eat? Yes. Don’t worry. I know you don’t want to bulk up like a football player. Relax.

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Whey protein won’t do that to you. So what will whey protein do for a woman like you? It will make you leaner, stronger and sexier!

What is Whey Protein?

Protein is an essential nutrient that builds muscles, tendons, hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters and all sorts of tiny molecules that regulate your life.

However, when it comes to fitness, protein is the key to muscle building and recovery process.

Proteins are assembled by smaller molecules called amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.

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Some amino acids are created by the body, while others must be consumed so that we can carry on normal physiological functions.

When we are born the first protein we consume is breastmilk. Milk contains two key proteins: casein and whey.

How is Whey Protein Made?

When milk is left over it can coagulate and turn into a left-over liquid product which contains whey (20%) and casein (80%).

The liquid whey is separated from the casein through filers and purified through ion exchange and water is removed so that the final product is whey dry powder.

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Whey protein is a complete, high-quality protein that contains all of the essential amino acids, and is easily digestible.

Whey protein is turned into one of three types of whey protein powder: whey protein isolate (wpi), hydrolysate (wph), and whey protein concentrate (wpc).

Types of Whey Protein

  • Whey protein isolate (wpi): 90% protein, or higher and contains very little lactose and fat
  • Whey protein hydrolysate (wph): Also known as hydrolyzed whey, this type has been pre-digested whey protein via partial hydrolysis, which now allows it to be absorbed into the body the easiest. Often this is used in infant formula or medical supplements since it’s digested so easily.
  • Whey protein concentrate (wpc): 60-80% protein depending on type of concentrate and contains some lactose and fat, but has the best flavor

Overall whey protein concentrate is the most popular choice because it is the cheapest and still retains most of the nutritional value found in whey, and taste the best.

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However, if you are unable to tolerate wpc, or if you want to consume more protein and keep the fat and carbs low, try either wpior wph. But remember, wpiand wphmay come at a higher expense!

How Does Whey Protein Help You in the Gym?

The main effects of whey on muscle/strength are that it provides the amino acid building blocks to build muscle and repair muscle quicker.

It also stimulates release of more anabolic hormones to stimulate muscle growth.

Numerous studies show that whey protein consumed before, during and after a workout helps maximize muscle building.

Studies also show that it helps with satiety and improve energy expenditure and contribute to weight loss.

In regards to the debate of whey protein vs casein, the studies show that there is minimal difference between the two and further investigation is required.

The key takeaway for you is that whey protein can help you both build muscle to and lose fat!

What Are Some Health Benefits of Whey Protein?

While we are focused on using whey protein to get stronger and losing fat, we should recognize that it can help our health in many other ways. Studies show that whey protein can help lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, decrease risk of diabetes mellitus and obesity, and improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression. Newer studies also show that it can potentially help reduce cancer, and reduce inflammation – potentially even in inflammatory bowel disease like Crohn’s disease.

health benefits of whey protein

Currently, whey protein has limited studies in regards to its ability to help reduce asthma or reduce food allergies.

Whey Protein Side Effects

Common side effects of whey protein include stomach pains, cramps, reduced appetite, diarrhea, nausea, or fatigue.

When you first take whey protein you may notice changes in your bowel movements the first few days. I recommend you give yourself a few days for your body to adjust. If it becomes unbearable, then switch to a different protein powder.

When I first started taking whey protein in high school I tried a few different brands and now I found the best one for me and have been using it consistently for over a decade.

Remember, everyone has a different body and response to whey protein.

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Can Whey Protein Damage My Kidneys?

Often people consume 1-2 scoops of whey protein a day (1 scoop = 25g whey protein).

Despite all the talk, consuming large amounts of protein will not cause kidney damage for normal healthy individuals. Healthy kidneys will not get damaged from your high protein diet.

Typically you should consume 1g per kg of bodyweight. Some bodybuilders or high level athletes, consume 1g of protein per pound of bodyweight.

Everyone has a different body. As long as you do not have chronic kidney disease, you should be fine. However, discuss this with your doctor first as everyone has a different body and response.

Ultimately, whey protein has been shown to be a safe product that has numerous health benefits and will give you the edge you need to get stronger and leaner!

Rajiv M Mallipudi, md, mhs is an internal medicine resident physician, personal trainer, athlete and author. He has over a decade of personal training experience and helped hundreds of clients of all levels achieve their weight loss and fitness goals. This inspired him to work as a clinical researcher at the nationally recognized, Johns Hopkins Hospital Weight Management Center. During medical school he and his classmates created the health and wellness organization, med fit, which provided personal training and nutrition counseling to the medical student body. In his spare time, Dr. Mallipudi enjoys playing ice hockey, dancing, and training for his next bodybuilding and powerlifting competitions. Dr. Mallipudi serves as a contributing writer for the Diet and Fitness sections.

disclaimer: Vixen Daily and its authors may offer health, fitness, nutritional advice but this is designed for educational and informational purposes only. All the information contained on Vixen Daily and its articles is not intended to constitute the practice of medicine. The information provided in articles on Vixen Daily should never be relied on, or used as a substitute or replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Vixen Daily and its authors are not responsible for any actions or inaction, safety or liability on a User’s part based on the information that is presented in the Site. If you seek medical advice, speak to a health professional in person about your particular issues.

30 comments… add one
  • loida February 13, 2018, 12:54 pm

    i tried this and i immediately had a very bad diarrhea so i stopped and switched to protein-rich foods instead. i like it better this way though. natural and healthier.

  • zoey February 12, 2018, 2:46 pm

    be careful not to take too much of this because it can be harmful than helpful if you do. and always drink lots of water, that’s most important.

  • talia February 12, 2018, 8:34 am

    i’ve tried whey protein before and it sure helped me with muscle gain but i stopped now. overall though, i can say it’s good as long as you know how much you should take. some go overboard and it’s not good.

  • sienna January 23, 2018, 7:35 pm

    im scared of the side effects though.

  • scarlet September 28, 2017, 5:31 pm

    i love whey protein, it gives me the right amount amount to keep me going on my workouts.

  • frida September 26, 2017, 12:54 pm

    i think that as long as you don’t overdo it, you’re fine. anything in excess is always bad.

  • malou September 7, 2017, 4:55 pm

    if you want to lose weight and gain some muscles at the same time, it is advised that you drink whey.

  • nora September 6, 2017, 4:57 pm

    i love whey! i have it after each workout at the gym and results have been really amazing!

  • lorraine August 23, 2017, 6:30 pm

    thanks for enlightening me. i’ve always felt negative about this.

  • stephanie August 20, 2017, 7:39 pm

    i love whey protein, i have it almost everytime i go to the gym. it keeps me energized.

  • magen August 18, 2017, 11:36 am

    wow, this is awesome information i sure didn’t know about whey.

  • glaiza August 16, 2017, 3:27 pm

    there’s benefits and side effects so choose very wisely and according to your personal physical needs.

  • maureen August 15, 2017, 6:34 am

    it’s true that whey protein is effective. but, i still go for natural sources just to be safer.

  • emilia August 6, 2017, 11:51 pm

    whey will be my last option when i can get protein from fresh & natural products anyway

  • carlisle July 31, 2017, 11:58 pm

    my husband takes this and he thinks it’s really helped him a lot in reaching his goal.

  • ellie July 30, 2017, 10:49 pm

    may be good and effective for some, but for me it isn’t

  • geline July 26, 2017, 3:18 pm

    i don’t think this is a necessity for me. i’m not into muscle building anyway.

  • kylie July 23, 2017, 11:46 pm

    i would rather stick to natural protein sources than this. i could save a lot from it too.

  • raquel July 18, 2017, 10:59 pm

    thanks for sharing this. i will try to weigh down its benefits and side effects

  • jessica July 17, 2017, 11:38 pm

    i appreciate the balanced information you’ve given here.

  • mylla July 16, 2017, 4:14 pm

    no, i’m not gonna risk it.

  • rianne July 13, 2017, 11:55 pm

    i don’t like taking supplements like this. i just feel like they’re not really good for the health

  • princess July 10, 2017, 7:05 pm

    if you don’t need to have muscles like those powerlifters, then i think this is not necessary at all.

  • ruffa July 9, 2017, 1:21 pm

    i’ve tried this and it helped me a lot staying healthy and fit. just make sure not to take too much.

  • paulette July 4, 2017, 4:58 pm

    this stuff is magic and my friends really love the benefits. i just can’t have it for myself because of some health issues.

  • maricel July 3, 2017, 6:04 pm

    i’m too scared of any side effects, i’m not ready to try it

  • darla June 29, 2017, 1:10 pm

    my husband used to have this everyday but he suffered high uric acid level. he has gout now.

  • paula June 28, 2017, 11:21 pm

    wow, this is a great option.

  • hailey June 27, 2017, 10:11 am

    use this moderation and as prescribed yo you.

  • roberta June 25, 2017, 3:14 pm

    i love whey, it definitely made me stronger

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