Side Effects of Protein Powder, Protein Powder Dangerous for Health

Side Effects of Protein Powder

Many people take protein powders in an effort to gain muscle.  However, there is some controversy as to whether this is really effective.  There is evidence suggesting that consuming high level s of protein may in fact have negative side effects for your health

1.Fat gain

Adding extra protein to the diet in the form of protein powder adds extra calories.  As excess protein cannot be stored in its original form in the body, if you are not burning these calories by doing a sufficient amount of physical activity, or doing enough weight bearing activities to build more muscle, these extra calories are likely to be converted to fat. 

2.Cancer Risk

Soy protein powder is a concentrated source of phytoestrogens, plant-based compounds that can mimic estrogen hormones in the human body. Moderate soy consumption is safe for most people, but high levels of phytoestrogens may increase the risk of certain cancers for both men and women. Specifically, a few studies have indicated that a high intake of phytoestrogens may increase breast cancer risk or breast cancer reoccurrence rates, although research on the subject is inconclusive.

3. Kidney Stones

Whether or not a high consumption of excessive amounts of protein causes kidney stones is an often debated. While there is no conclusive evidence that it causes them, whey protein doesn’t seem to help prevent them, and can worsen the condition if it’s already present.

One way to make sure that you don’t get kidney stones from using whey protein is to get enough fiber in your diet. Adequate amounts of fiber and water will help your body maintain itself and prevent the buildup of deposits that can lead to a kidney stone.

4.Heavy Metal Toxicity

In a study published in 2010 by "Consumer Reports," researchers discovered that every sample of 15 different tested protein powders contained trace amounts of toxic heavy metals. Each sample tested positive for one or more of the heavy metals lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury, and three samples were found to contain potentially toxic doses of the metals in three servings. Continued low-level consumption of such heavy metals can produce symptoms including fatigue, constipation, headaches and pain in muscles and joints.

5.Bone loss

High levels of protein intake generates a large amount of acid in the body due to the excess sulphates and phosphates that are introduced.  The kidneys then try to restore the balance of acid by excreting more acid, at the same time the skeleton releases calcium which is also lost in the urine as a buffer.

This results in the loss of calcium from bones which can increase the risk of osteoporosis if it occurs over a longer time frame, particularly in high risk groups such as women.  There is a possibility however, that a diet which is high in alkaline fruit and vegetables in addition to protein may help to counteract this effect.