Is Protein Powder Bad For You? What Are The Risks?

If you're looking to build muscle mass, then there's a good chance that you've probably looked into using protein powders. While using these kinds of supplements, should you be concerned with your health?

Many people like you and I are attempting to build muscle mass. In the process, we can't help to notice the variety of supplements available on the market. If you watch any sports, or any men's TV stations, there's almost a 100% chance that you have seen an advertisement for a muscle building supplement.

Soy Protein

The most commonly used muscle building supplement would have to be protein powders. In second place, you may see people using creatine. From there, the list goes on.

Is Protein Powder Bad For You? What Are The Risks?

Today, I want to go ahead and take some time to focus on protein powders, and whether or not they're bad for your health. I decided that I really wanted to focus on this subject because it is really what people look into purchasing, if they're trying to build mass. Chances are, you probably have some protein powder sitting somewhere in your house. If you do not, you have likely tried using protein powder to put on mass.

Before ever taking any supplements, you should always do the proper research, because most of the time, these supplements are not approved by the FDA. Let's go ahead and take a look at how protein powder can be bad for you in this article.

After detailed explanation from a friend of mine who is a personal trainer, and after vigorous amounts of research, I have learned that protein powder can be bad for you. Like anything else, this is only when you abuse the system.

If you take too much protein powder, then you're likely going to run into some problems. If you take the correct amount of protein powder, then you're likely going to be okay. The following list is a list of side effects that you can run into by taking in too much protein. By the way, these side effects can also occur by taking in too much protein from natural food sources, not just protein powders.

1. Kidney Stones: Although I never experienced kidney stones while supplementing with protein, I did experience kidney pain. Although I don't believe it has been proved that protein can directly lead to kidney stones, there definitely seems to be a connection.

2. Acidic Blood: Having acidic blood can actually lead to osteoporosis. When you intake too much protein, you may develop acidic blood levels. I first read about this side effect on a site called Project Swole.

3. Liver Problems: Too much protein can actually be harmful to your liver. Who knew? I read about this side effect on a site called Your Doctor.

In the end, it's important that you avoid taking in too much of anything. According to most online sources, you shouldn't take more than 2.5 kilograms of protein per kilogram of your own body weight, per day.

Is Protein Powder Bad For You? What Are The Risks?

If you're looking to experiment with protein supplements, you should know that these supplements will not make you muscular on their own. I have heard that good muscle building supplements can boost your results by 10%. That is only if you're dieting and working out correctly.

My name is Taylor Thompson, and I am a huge fitness fanatic. Sadly, my health has disallowed me to train over the past few weeks. I recently wrote an article on my site Do Strong, which is discussing the same subject that we have discussed today; "Is Protein Powder Bad For You? [http://www.dostrong.com/blog/is-protein-powder-bad-for-you] " I also wrote another similar article titled, "Is Protein Powder Safe?" I truly hope that the information here has been beneficial to you and your health.

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Choosing The Right Protein Powder

Before deciding which protein powder is necessary, here is a short protein primer to help you make sense of the thousands of different protein powders from which to choose. Whey, milk, egg, and soy are some of the "mainstream" names, but to the bodybuilding community it gets broken down even more:

Whey protein isolate

Soy Protein

whey protein concentrate

Choosing The Right Protein Powder

Hydrolyzed whey

Calcium caseinate

Egg white

Whole egg

Micellar casein

Etc, etc, etc...

What are the benefits of all these different forms of protein?

Whey protein makes up 20% of total milk protein. Whey is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, high cysteine content, rapid digestion, and interesting variety of peptides.

Casein protein makes up 80% of total milk protein. Casein is recognized for its excellent amino acid profile, slow digestion and interesting variety of peptides. Since casein is slowly digested into your bloodstream, don't use it during workouts or after workouts - you need a fast absorbing protein at these times.

Soy protein is the most controversial of all protein types. While the soy groupies have gone to great lengths to label soy as a super food with magical effects, there is also a good amount of research that suggests soy protein may be contraindicated in many situations. Because of all the confusion, I suggest avoiding soy protein altogether and sticking to the other types listed.

Protein Blends are generally a combination of several types of protein blends such as whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein, and soy protein. Why would you want a blend anyway? You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein.

Whey hydrolysates (also known as hydrolyzed whey protein, and are also called peptides), are powerful proteins that are more quickly absorbed; more so than any other form, since your body prefers peptides to whole proteins. Hydrolysates are produced through very low heat, low acid and mild enzymatic filtration processes, (those highest in the essential and the branched chain amino acids) and are potentially the most anabolic for short-term protein synthesis such as 15 minutes prior to a workout, during a workout and immediately after a workout.

Whey Protein Versus Whey Isolate:

Most whey protein powders that stock the supplement shelves are made up of whey concentrate and mixed in with a small portion of whey isolate. Comparing the two, whey protein isolate is more expensive than whey protein concentrate because it has a higher quality (more pure) and a higher BV (biological value). Whey protein isolate contains more protein and less fat and lactose per serving. Most whey protein isolates contain 90-98% protein while whey concentrates contain 70-85% protein.

Whey protein isolate is the highest yield of protein currently available that comes from milk. Because of its chemical properties it is the easiest to absorb into your system. Obviously with its high concentration, it appears that an isolate protein would be the obvious choice instead of a concentrate. However, this is an individual decision because the isolate is more expensive, and just because it is purer does not guarantee that it will help build bigger muscles. Its extra concentration may not justify its extra cost.

How can we use these different forms to our advantage?

Whey Protein:

Since it is very quickly digested the best time to consume it is within six hours after a workout, prior to a workout or breakfast.

Casein Protein:

Since it is slowly digested the best time to consume it is anytime of the day except breakfast and within six hours after a workout when your body requires a more immediate source.

Soy Protein:

As mentioned I would avoid this one altogether.

Blend Proteins:

Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein - use this kind at periods outside of the six hour post workout window.

Whey Hydrolysates:

Use a hydrolysate protein for your pre, during and post workout nutrition because this will enter your blood stream quicker than any other form.

Money aside, which form of protein do you believe is most beneficial? Why?

Dollar for dollar, protein powders and meal replacement drinks tend to be more cost effective than whole food. Don't get me wrong, though. Protein powders are still supplements in my book. Supplement means an addition to the diet. I emphasize this because the focus of any diet should be food. Whole food is often preferable to powders because it can offer a whole spectrum of nutrients that powders cannot.

Most of your dietary protein should come from meat, fish, poultry and eggs. However getting all your protein from whole food is not always practical or convenient, especially if you have to eat 6 or more times a day to get your required intake. I will stress to you, for optimal muscle gains, that you should limit yourself to a maximum of three per day or 40 % of your meals.
The bottom line is that both are necessary to achieve a complete nutritional balance as well as the desired level of protein intake, especially if you're not a big fan of cooking. Do not make the fatal mistake of thinking protein powders can take the place of a solid training and nutrition program.

So what is the bottom line? Which should you choose?

For the pre, during and post workout phase, as long as whey hydrolysate is the first or second ingredient on the supplement label then there is probably not enough in the product to influence protein synthesis to reap the optimal benefits. As stated, whey isolates are also a very extremely high quality whey and for maximal anabolism isolates should be combined with whey hydrolysates for only the pre, during and post workout phases of your program. The inclusion of small amounts of whey concentrates will not harm you but this should not be the first ingredient on the tub of protein powder.

If you are looking for the strongest protein powder to exploit your full growth potential during all other times of the day then use a blend. You will receive the full spectrum of proteins and you will receive varying rates of absorption from the different types of protein. Using a blend will create an anabolic environment from the whey and an anti-catabolic environment from the casein

Choosing The Right Protein Powder

Vince DelMonte is the author of No Nonsense Muscle Building: Skinny Guy Secrets To Insane Muscle Gain found at http://www.VinceDelMonteFitness.com/

He specializes in teaching skinny guys how to build muscle and gain weight quickly without drugs, supplements and training less than before.

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The Scary Truth About Soy Protein and Bodybuilding

Inevitably there's a myth that soy protein is horrible for bodybuilding and that if you are any where near serious about working out or building muscle you will stay away from it. In fact, some sites show 'studies' that soy protein and soy products can be detrimental to your health. And while it's true that early claims of soy wonders might not be entirely true, there's also myth that soy protein is bad.

First off, there's a concept called the Biological Value Scale that was developed to measure the quality of specific proteins. It basically rates how efficiently your body will use a given protein source. The higher the BV (biological value), the more amino acids and nitrogen your body is retaining from the foods you eat. In sum, it becomes a way to measure the potential for quality muscle growth and strength.

Soy Protein

There was a time when egg whites were at the top of the BV with a score of around 100. Since then, whey proteins have toped out the scales around 106-159 BV. This means that whey protein is better used for quality muscle growth.

The Scary Truth About Soy Protein and Bodybuilding

But first a warning!

This doesn't mean that all you would utilize is whey protein for all your needs. Many times bodybuilders will use a variety of proteins depending on the BV and the times of day and if they just finished a workout.

Let me explain... Your protein needs in the morning are different then the middle of the day and are different again AFTER a workout and again different before bed.

All this means is that no one protein is the best for any given time. But before I get lost... let me show you the biological value scale in a simple form.

Type of Protein :: Biological Value Rating

Whey: 106-159 Egg: 100 Cow's Milk: 91 Fish: 83 Casein: 80 Beef: 80 Chicken: 79 Soy: 74 Wheat Gluten: 54 Kidney Beans: 49

For all these reasons, you can and should see that soy protein is listed lower. That just means it's not the most anabolic of proteins for optimal muscle growth.

But don't get me wrong...

This doesn't mean you shouldn't eat soy protein if you enjoy it. It simply means that barring any religious beliefs or personal preferences, soy would not be the ideal protein source for enhanced muscle gains. This doesn't mean you cannot have it or that it's bad for you.

In fact, let's continue on with a little example.

John Q. Public 13% body fat 184 lbs 160 lbs of LBM (lean body mass)

For simplification we'll just say that for every LB of LBM (pound of lean body mass) John wants to get 1 g of protein.

John should be consuming 160 g of protein a day.

Here's where the myth and some problems come into play! Read carefully.

If you get a vast amount of your protein from less BV sources then optimal (beans, soy) you will not prime your muscles for optimal anabolic growth. John shouldn't be getting 150+ grams of soy protein a day IF he wants to create the most muscle mass and he has no personal reasons not to use better quality sources.

John also won't be in jeopardy of losing muscle or wasting his efforts if he ingests small quantities of soy proteins because he likes them. Having soy in his cereal is not going to make a difference.

The myth that soy will cause men to produce estrogen is when VAST quantities are ingested. Far beyond what any rational person would want to do on a prolonged basis.

A bodybuilder that has soy will not feel any differences, be any less anabolic then another person who does not consume soy at all.

Fact: A long-term metabolic balance study in young men to assess the nutritional quality of an isolated soy protein and beef proteins (VR Young, A Wayler, C Garza, FH Steinke, E Murray, WM Rand, and NS Scrimshaw) was published in 1984 by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, Jan 1984; 39: 8 - 15.

After 84 days of two groups, one totally isolated soy protein and the other on beef proteins, found a conclusion that:

"Body cell mass measurements did not reveal any deterioration in protein nutritional status. These observations confirm the prediction, derived from previous short-term nitrogen balance studies, that the nutritional quality of isolated soy protein is high and that this plant protein can serve as the sole source of essential amino acids and nitrogen for protein maintenance in adults."

So let me summarize and review...

Soy is not the most biological available source for optimal anabolic muscle growth. If you were to finish a workout, you would want to ingest some high quality whey protein vs. soy proteins. However, simply having soy doesn't mean it's bad for bodybuilding unless you are getting a majority of your protein from soy products. Then it's not optimal. You'd also need to ingest quite a bit on a daily basis for any negative effects of soy to manifest (specifically aimed at males in this sentence).

Copyright 2006 Marc David

The Scary Truth About Soy Protein and Bodybuilding

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Foods For Hypothyroidism - Can Food Make Your Hypothyroid Condition Better?

It is said that 27 million Americans have a thyroid condition, and more than half are left undiagnosed. Thyroid diseases are frequently misunderstood and too often misdiagnosed, witch can lead to a series of health problems related to metabolism like:

general fatigue weight gain hair loss dry skin

Nutrient Soy

Out of all different thyroid condition, the most common one is hypothyroidism. But regardless of your thyroid gland problem, you will need to take care of yourself, starting with the right nutrition.

Foods For Hypothyroidism - Can Food Make Your Hypothyroid Condition Better?

If you are hypothyroid, you have different nutrition needs then others. There are "good" and "bad" foods for hypothyroidism that you need to be aware of. Research has shown that you can control some of the symptoms with better and appropriate eating habits.

Good Foods for Hypothyroidism?

Coconut - Since early history, coconut butter, usually known as coconut oil, has been used as nutrient and medicine. Yes, coconut has a lot of fat, but not the same kind of saturated fat found in meat and dairy products. Coconut butter has a raw saturated fat witch contains fatty acids. The body can metabolize effectively these fatty acids and convert it to energy much faster. Coconut butter is also known to regulate thyroid function.
Kelp - kelp is the large brown seaweed surrounding our sushi. It is also a leading sea vegetable, full of nutrients. Kelp has blood purifying proprieties and supports adrenal, pituitary and thyroid health. The natural iodine contained in kelp can help to normalize the extra weight associated to hypothyroidism.
Turkey and Chicken - lean protein is low in calories, making it an excellent healthy food choice. Also, the selenium found in turkey has been shown to slow down cancer development, improve the immune system. Selenium will assist thyroid functions and support your body's metabolism.
Vitamins and Minerals - yes, a good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is recommended for hypothyroid patients. But the minerals found naturally in food is still you best nutrition source. Look for copper in foods like: oysters, clams, crabs, sunflowers seeds, cashews, and whole-grain products. Look also for iron in green vegetables, chicken, beans, shellfish, and red meat.
Bad Foods for Hypohtyroid

If you are hypothyroid, it is possible that you are sensitive to a substance called goitrogen, known to block thyroid hormone secretion. Goitrogen is found in soy and peanuts. This is can be a problem because soy and peanuts are used extensively in process foods. Almost every packaged foods found today in stores will contain soy and/or peanut oil.

Goitrogens are also found naturally in vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. It is better to cook these vegetables and not eat them raw. The goitrogen will neutralized with the heat.

Foods For Hypothyroidism - Can Food Make Your Hypothyroid Condition Better?

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Side Effects of Soy

Soybeans and soy-derived products have become insanely popular in the USA today, despite known dangerous side effects of soy products. Well, maybe not known, at least to most of us. But the industry knows, and they're doing their best to conceal soy's dangerous side effects.

How can you tell? Well, look at advertising for soy products. Unless it's soy protein powder specifically marketed to bodybuilders, you never see men in soy advertisements. That's because soy is much more dangerous to men than it is to women, though it's bad for both.

Nutrient Soy

Here are the three big nasties about soy that no one will tell you:

Side Effects of Soy

· Soy has an extraordinary amount of estrogen in it - every 100 grams of soy protein you consume has as much estrogen as a high-dose birth control pill! This is especially damaging to infants, making soy formula particularly vital to avoid, but it's dangerous to men - I believe it's responsible for the recent rash of "man-boobs" hitting America - and women (in whom it can cause early menses, PMS, and other hormone-related issues).

· Soybeans contain phytic acid (as do normal beans and grains if you don't soak them well before you cook them). Phytic acid has all kinds of negative effects on your body, but chief among them is that it eats away vitamins and nutrients that your body has stored in it's muscle and bone tissue, making soybeans actually negatively nutritionally valuable.

· Finally, soybeans contain chemicals called trypsin inhibitors that prevent your stomach from breaking down proteins - so the big benefit of soybeans (the high protein content) is negated by another chemical that occurs naturally in soybeans themselves.

There is no good reason to consume soy products - with one exception: soy products that have been fermented, like real Chinese tofu, tamari soy sauce, and Japanese natto, don't have any of these problems. Several other common foods have similar health effects, but there are experts out there who have put the warnings together for you.

Side Effects of Soy

If you're surprised to learn that such a popular health food has such dark secrets, you've been talking to the wrong health professionals. Find the right ones [http://www.fire-your-doctor.com] today -- your health may depend on it!

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