We all wish to have a body that is healthy, fit, shapely and muscular. Earlier, it was men who were more conscious about their body and wanted to maintain it. But now even women want to get a well toned body and look beautiful. Going to the gym and doing cardio is one of the best ways to build muscle mass. You have to do it the right way. It is also important that you take a diet that is rich in protein. This helps in repairing the muscles and building up the muscle mass. Eggs, soya, poultry and milk are rich sources of protein. People who go to the gym need to take protein rich food to supply their body with enough nutrients. Nowadays you get a variety of protein supplements in the market. Whey protein, casein protein, rice protein, egg protein, pea protein, help protein and soya protein are a few of them. The protein supplements that you take-in can also have some side effects, which you may not be aware of.
Side Effects of Protein Supplements:
Bone loss:
Protein is important for the proper growth and development of bones. But protein can also make your bones turn weak. The protein supplements that are made from non-vegetarian sources, like eggs and beef, are acidic in nature. When you consume these proteins, it can increase the acidity of your blood. So, your blood releases alkaline substances like calcium and phosphate to neutralise the high blood acidity. These substances come from your bones. So, gradually you start losing your bone mass every time you take-in excess of animal protein supplements. This leads to osteoporosis and brittle bones.
Drug interactions:
Protein supplement can also interact with drugs and cause havoc. If you are on medication for hypertension, you should not consume whey protein, as this supplement is can also bring down the blood pressure. Whey protein can interact with anti-platelet medications, NSAIDs, and anti-coagulant drugs, and increase the risk of bleeding. The best way is to consult your doctor before you consume protein supplements.
Disturbs blood sugar levels:
We love protein powders for its different flavours. Without flavour, this powder is not at all tasty or palatable. Protein powders having flavours of chocolate or vanilla contain sweets and additives, which may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. According to research made, it is said that soy protein, casein and whey protein can bring down the systolic blood pressure. This can cause problem for people suffering from low blood pressure and diabetes.
Hair loss:
Hair is made from keratin. Keratin is a protein. So, you may think that consuming excess protein can increase your hair growth. But you are wrong. When you workout it in the gym and take-in high amounts of protein supplements, the vitamins, fat and carbohydrates in your body is getting reduced. When these substances become deficient in your body, it becomes difficult for your body to maintain the health of your hair. This triggers telogen effluvium, a condition characterized by hair loss and balding.
Hormonal disruption:
Hormonal disruption is a great issue when you consume soy-based protein supplements. Soy is rich in amino acids, but it is also packed with phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogen can mimic estrogen and can affect your endocrine system, taking it on a roller-coaster ride. About 95% of the soy used for making protein supplement is genetically modified. This contains a chemical which can cause hormonal imbalance, miscarriage and birth defects in newborn babies. Daidzein and genistein found in soy can cause erectile dysfunction, reduced libido and enlarged breasts in men.
Heavy metal poisoning:
According to research made in 2010, protein supplements may contain heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and cadmium, which are harmful for the body. So, if you consume protein supplements for long periods of time, it can make you sick. You can suffer from digestive disorders, throbbing muscles, aching joints and exhaustion.
Kidney disorders:
The protein that is taken inside is utilized by the body. In the process, ammonia is formed as a by-product. The ammonia thus formed is converted into urea, which is removed from the body through urine. So, if you take high quantities of protein, more urea is produced. This can put higher pressure on your kidneys as they filter out copious amounts of urea and calcium from the blood. By consuming large quantities of protein supplements for a long period of time, the risk of developing renal disorders is increased. As a result you may suffer from kidney stones, impairment of kidneys and renal failure.
Liver damage:
When you have protein supplements with no carbs, your body can enter into a state of ketosis, in which the body uses fat as the primary source of energy. This can increase blood pressure. High blood acidity can affect the functions of the liver and can cause various disorders of the liver.
Upsets digestive system:
Two of the most popular protein supplements, whey protein and casein protein, are obtained from milk. They are rich sources of lactose, which is a type of sugar present naturally in milk. This makes it unsuitable for people who are lactose intolerant. For such people, consuming whey protein and casein protein can lead to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence and vomiting. So, they should avoid these two protein supplements.
Unhealthy weight gain:
If you consume protein supplements in excess, it can lead to weight gain. Weight gain means fat. If your workout regimen and protein intake are not balanced, the unutilized calories get converted into fat. This fat gets collected in your body and as a result, you will gain weight. So, make sure that the protein supplement you have is adequate but not in excess.