Protein shakes are perfect for individuals who like to build more muscles and gain physical strength, as well as those who wish to shed off excess pounds by going on a high-protein diet. It’s because of the many perks associated with the intake of protein shakes why a lot of people end up consuming it all the time, which causes them to get so much more protein than their bodies really require.
The trouble with drinking a lot of protein shakes is that there are actually dangers associated with it, ranging from organ damage to weight gain!
So if you’re someone who is never seen without gulping a tall glass of protein shake, keep on reading — below you will come across some of the known hidden dangers of protein shakes that you may encounter most especially if you tend to drink it more than you should.
But before that, let’s take a quick look at how much protein you really need to consume per day.
Health authorities say that you should get your body supplied with 0.36 grams of protein per pound. This means that if you’re someone who weighs 150 pounds, your daily diet should yield 54 grams of protein all in all. Fitness experts agree that you may actually increase your daily protein intake to 0.50 to 0.90 grams per pound if you are trying to build more muscles or attempting to lose weight by means of a diet that recommends increased protein intake.
With protein shakes, it can be quite easy for anyone to wind up getting more protein than necessary — protein shake ads make it seem like the more you drink protein shakes, the nicer you will look. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. If you’re not careful, overdosing on protein shakes can in fact wreak havoc on your overall health!
Here are some of the dangers of too much protein shakes that not a lot of people know about:
Weight Gain
A lot of people take protein shakes in order to enjoy weight loss rapidly, especially as a part of a high-protein and low-carbohydrate diet. Sadly, a lot of these individuals do not know the fact that consuming lots and lots of protein shakes can in fact cause weight gain rather than weight loss.
Protein that the body no longer needs is actually converted into fat just like excessive amounts of carbohydrates. What’s more, so many nice-tasting protein shakes out there actually contain lots of sugar.
Heavy Metal Toxicity
If you think that protein is all that there is in a glass of protein shake, think again. According to various independent testing laboratories, many of the protein shake brands and blends on the current market actually contain trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium!
Consuming a lot of protein shakes that are contaminated can easily lead to the accumulation of high amounts of heavy metals in your body, which is something that can lead to various life-threatening problems.
Kidney Damage
Protein metabolism yields all kinds of waste materials that have to be eliminated from the body. Such task is delegated to the kidneys — these bean-shaped organs of yours filter out protein metabolism by-products from your bloodstream and take them out of the body via your pee.
Unfortunately for those who are suffering from kidney issues or at high risk of encountering them, a diet that’s high in protein can lead to some very serious health repercussions!
Digestive Distress
Are you suffering from lactose intolerance? Then don’t be surprised why it seems like you wind up with nausea, abdominal pain, excess gas and diarrhea after having a protein shake — protein shakes are from the lactose-containing part of milk referred to as “whey”.
This is the reason why you should be very careful when shopping for protein shakes. Experts recommend whey isolate as it contains the least amount of lactose. Do take note that this type of protein shake has minimal amounts of lactose and not completely devoid of it, which means that it may still cause unfavorable lactose intolerance-related symptoms.
