Whey Protein Side Effects

Whey protein is among the commonest of protein dietary supplements but whey protein side effects may outweigh the benefits at the end of the day. In this hub, I'll go over all of the positive effects of whey protein, plus whey protein side effects that may or may not exist. What is whey protein? It's a mixture of proteins that have been isolated and collected from the by product of making cheese. So inherently, whey protein is a dairy product. Those with milk allergies may find that whey protein disagrees with their bodies. That's one of the inherent side effects that will be mentioned later, allergies. But allergies only generally come about in a fraction of the population, so whey protein shouldn't cause that in most. Let's go through the whey protein side effects before we go through the benefits.

Now when I say that the following are whey protein side effects, it's more accurate to say that the following are potential whey protein side effects. None of these have ever been clinically proven. They are mere correlations, if that, and not causal relationships between consuming whey protein and having adverse effects.

This is just a disclaimer about protein powders in general. Most people take protein supplements in order to build muscle mass. Weight lifters often take more than one kind of protein powder in addition to a slew of other supplements in order to help them in their weight gain. This is where I think that many people run into problems and start seeing side effects. The body isn't just a muscle building machine, and it doesn't exactly do well when treated as such. When specific supplements are taken daily to try and turn the body into a muscle building machine, you may start seeing some unwanted side effects. Things in moderation are key. If you take limited amounts of whey protein to supplement your normal diet, but don't take a lot of other muscle building supplements, it would be very surprising if you experience any hostile side effects. But here they are:

1. Allergies and Allergic Reactions

• As I mentioned above, whey protein is a dairy based products, which is one of the most allergenic foods out there. If you have any kind of allergy to dairy, chances are that you'll have an allergy to whey. If you don't have an allergy to dairy and still have an allergy to whey, then you probably just shouldn't take it.

2. Other Side Effects

• Possible Kidney Damage
• Nausea
• Possible Liver Damage
• Bloating
• Cramping
• Thirst

**These side effects have only ever been reported in persons who have heavily exceeded the healthy volume of whey protein intake. As with any supplement, if you take too much of it, you're bound to run into problems.

The benefits of whey protein are equally as unsubstantiated as the side effects. There are many claims that whey protein helps as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent, but these haven't been proven or disproven.

1. Reduced Risk of Heart Disease

• Whey protein is considered a very clean and lean form of protein, healthier than many animal proteins. That's why one of the major health benefit claims for whey protein is a reduced risk of heart disease. This hasn't been substantiated, but there are correlations that seem to suggest this relationship.

2. Builds Lean Muscle

• Whey protein is fat free and yet is still quite filling, which means that for athletes especially, when muscles are torn and broken down through normal exercise, whey protein will help build them back up in a lean fashion without the body having to deal with excess oils and fats.

If you're interested in checking into vegetable sources of protein instead of animal ones, check out the site Spirulina powder for more information.

This article is meant to add to your general knowledge and is not meant to be taken as medical advice.