Are protein shakes bad for our health?

Question

Not for dieting or anything, the ones that people use for a protein supplyment or if they are working out.

I use a scoop of designer whey every other day, but I noticed it has a large amount of amino acids and aspartatic acid.

I also heard it's not good for our kidneys/liver

Answer 1

I'm in the Fitness Industry, and I've heard it all.

It's generally accepted by many lifters that if you are aiming to build muscle, protein in grams equal to your weight is what you need.

So: if you weigh 150 lbs, you'd want 150 grams of protein per day. But I still think that's just too much. But bodybuilders (steroid monkeys) go WAY over that amount, and survive just fine.

The idea is not to get more than around 45 grams of protein in one large meal -- the liver has trouble with much more than 40-50 grams at a time, depending on your size.

I personally eat around 120 grams a day, between fish and poultry and only occasional powders. I just don't find them all that filling, and a non-filling meal can lead to temptations to eat junk.

So, it all depends on your goals. If you're only trying to stay at your current weight, have a lean serving of meat, then fish, and some beans and rice, or nuts and grains for a bit more.

Amino acids are what make up protein, and aspartic acid is no worry. Designer Whey is a very respected and clean brand. I avoid all the artificial sweeteners except Stevia (it's truly natural).

And for reference, I'm 6', 190 lbs. So while I'm not an ape, lol, I'm doing just fine, and many days I don't even hit that 120 mark. So, do what feels good, watch your results, and eat MORE if you see that hard lifting isn't getting you there. But always, always, make sure to get enough water and enough REST.

Good Luck... :)

Answer 2

If you are not getting enough good quality protein from your diet then the additional protein is needed. However, if you already get enough protein from your meals and you are not trying to build muscle then the protein may not be needed.

Most people can have 3-4 servings of whey in addition to their diet with no problems. The problem occurs when they specifically eat more protein in their diet and then add large quantities of whey on top of that. 1 serving every other day wouldn't hurt and they way most people eat now a days you probably could use the extra helping hand.