The Desired And Undesired Effects Of Using Whey Protein

Milk is around 80% casein and around 20% whey protein. Whey protein is one of the leading dietary supplements for weight loss and muscle growth, and when concentrated, is very effective.

Whey protein, if its pure, will be free of most of the causes of milk allergies, as most of these are contained in the casein that is extracted during the purification process. Whey protein therefore can be a good dietary option for people with these kinds of allergies, however whey isn’t necessarily suitable for people who are completely lactose intolerant.

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 a result of excess protein in your body that the body cant do anything with so it settles on your joints, muscles and tendons in your legs and feet (usually in your big toes first) as crystals of uric acid that cause joints to be stiff, brittle and painful.

Excess protein can also cause lasting damage to the liver and the kidneys, but as long as you follow any recommended guidelines you can find you should be alright (you do have to take quite a lot for gout to settle in). Different people require different amounts of protein for it to take effect, and the most prominent factor is deciding how much is right for you is your body mass. I would advise having a consultation with your doctor before you start on protein supplements to try and work out an estimate for you on how much to have.

So overall, using whey protein is an effective way of shedding unwanted fat, or gaining lean muscle, but its worth doing the research before hand to ensure that you don’t experience any undesired effects.

Last 5 posts by Julie Poundsign

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