Importance of Protein: Best Whey Protein Powders and Side Effects of Soy

I'm having unusual side effects and am curious as to why I am having them. I have been working out hard for the past six months and have been taking Anabolic-7 pills with Pro Performance Creatine 189 pills for the past four weeks and have been getting great results with no bad side effects. I have been using them for about three and a half weeks. I started taking a powdered protein shake a couple of days ago and since then I have been experiencing severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, cramping, and nausea. This only happens after I drink a shake. I switched to a different brand or type of protein shake thinking it was maybe the brand or type of protein and have even tried mixing the powder with skim milk versus water, but I get the same reaction regardless. I know that protein is essential, and I know that I need to take a protein supplement, but I am worried if there is something wrong with me. Have you ever heard of this or ever experienced this type of reaction from powdered protein supplements? Do you have an idea what could be causing this? Any thoughts, suggestions, or help would be greatly appreciated.

Dear John, You didn't mention what type of protein shake you used, but if you have an allergy to whey which is milk protein, or soy, then your gastrointestinal symptoms could be an allergic reaction response. Also, common side effects of bodybuilding supplements do affect the gut and could cause gastrointestinal distress. It might be a good idea to give your body a rest and stop the combination supplements and just take only one product at a time, especially the protein shake. Some bodybuilders take only protein shakes and not the other supplements which you mentioned. I don't know much about these supplements, so you may want to check with a bodybuilding specialist or trainer. When you take several different types of supplements, you run the risk of creating an interaction. If, after stopping the supplements and shakes, you continue to have these symptoms, you might want to be checked by your doctor.

I am considering taking a whey protein supplement. Then I was told this could contribute to yeast infections. Is this true?

Dear Pam, I know of no problem with whey protein supplement causing yeast infections unless the person has an allergy to milk protein. Research with whey protein has shown that it increases cellular glutathione levels which is an important antioxidant that assists the body's immune system to fight off infections, neutralize toxins, rid the body of heavy metals and even carcinogens. Contrary to causing infections, whey is a potent enhancer of the immune system and helps to ward off infections.

I've recently had weight loss surgery and am steadily working towards getting my required protein in every day. I am still on a mostly liquid diet, so I use whey protein and Unjury unflavored protein powder for most of my daily intake. I was wondering if too little protein could cause headaches? I'm 3 weeks post-op, but the headaches have only been in the last two to three days.

Dear NWatson, I am not an expert in weight loss surgery and do not know the consequences of such surgery on the protein intake and absorption in the body. You should tell your doctor of your headaches so that he or she can advise you if this is related to your diet and protein intake, absorption, or whether it could be related to your surgery. You might also want to find a support group of patients who have had similar surgery. Good luck in your endeavors.

So whey protein 100% will contain all the essential amino acids that you would normally get from eating meat products? So basically whey protein 100% is equal to eating meat?

I am just wondering what is the best foods that you can eat with whey protein for the best results for weight loss? I started taking probiotic whey protein and carbohydrate formula yesterday. My aim is to lose my stomach fat and to tone up. I workout for about half an hour every day, running, skipping and cardio. workouts. I try my best to keep a well balanced diet, but when I took my supplement yesterday, I was eating a lot of carbohydrates and today I've noticed that I have put on a few pounds, making me the heaviest I have been. Should I also be incorporating weights to my workout also?

Dear Robby, Whey protein powder contains all the essential amino acids needed by the body and in the correct proportions. Meat is a total protein also, but I would not go so far as to say that whey protein is the same or the equivalent as eating meat, just as you cannot compare apples to oranges. It can be used by some people who are not sensitive to it as another option to obtain all the essential amino acids needed by the body.

Dear Cerys, It is best to eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and go light on the carbohydrates when you are trying to lose weight. Ordinary whey protein powders are not usually meant to be used as weight loss products but rather as supplements for obtaining more protein and the essential amino acids for the body unless the whey powder specifically states on the bottle that it is a weight loss product and a substitute for a meal replacement. So if your whey powder is not specifically labeled as a weight loss product, it is not to be used for such. You might have gained water weight due to an imbalance in your protein/carbohydrate intake. You may need to seek out a professional with expertise in weight loss and carbohydrate/protein loading to determine your dilemma. Weight training is encouraged to gain muscle mass but muscle weighs more than fat, so if your aim is to lose weight in pounds, it may not happen with weight training. However, weight training will help to change fat into muscle. I hope this helps.

Dr. Leia, I've been taking Isopure whey protein off and on for about 4 years. I recently picked back up with it and am taking about 30g per day or one shake. Since I've picked it back up I feel nervousness and my hands jitter, almost constantly. I cant tell if the jitters are any better or worse after I drink my shake. Are these typical side effects of taking whey protein?

Dear Jake, Isopure looks like it contains sucralose, or Splenda, as a sweetener. Even though it is made from sugar, it may have some side effects because of the way it is processed. You can go here to read more about the negative effects of sucralose> Information on Sucralose. In any event, I would try staying off the product long enough until you are truly able to determine if it is the cause of your jitters.

Good Day Dr Leia, I have been using a Protein shake everyday for the last 2 weeks skipping Saturdays and Sundays (the product contains both milk and soy proteins) After about 14 days, I experienced stomach cramps and severe diarrhea. Could this be that the increase in protein in my diet is causing malabsorption and providing too much protein for my body to digest? Is this a common side effect when taking protein shakes? Will it help if I reduce my protein intake ? Any other suggestions ? Thank You Ron

I am trying to lose 10 lbs in the next 3 weeks. I work out on a daily basis and eat a lot of vegetables. I don't eat much meat and the only meat I eat is chicken, but I rarely do so. I was told to drink 8 oz of a smoothie containing the following: 1 scoop of Whey protein powder, 8oz. of milk, and 1 cup of frozen fruit. Will this help my weight loss goal, or diminish it?

Is whey protein to be taken before or after my strength training? I am a thirty-four year old woman weighing 84 KGS. I want to be lean. I do my weight training thrice a week, an hour per session. I take whey protein only on the strength training days not on the other days when I am doing my cardiovascular workout. I am told that too much whey protein intake may cause deficiency of calcium in women. Is that true?

Hello, I have Hypoglycemia and have been starting to work out to lose weight with my husband, but my sugar goes low and I have to stop often or I eat candy during my work out, which to me defeats the purpose. I would like to know what I can do to help with this problem. My husband suggests possibly taking a whey protein drink before my workout. What do you think? Please help, I really want to lose weight and stay in shape. Thank you very much.

Hi, could you advise me on which whey product would be the right one for me? I'm a 37 year old woman that's 5ft tall, weighing in at 140 pounds. I'm constantly waking up out of my sleep for something sweet to eat around two in the morning. I hope one of these shakes can help with that. I need a low carbohydrate meal replacement shake, which would help me lose weight and curb my appetite, preferably natural and no sugar. I am also lactose intolerant.

Dear Ron try changing the protein powder that you use. Try ON's Gold standard 100% whey which is easy on the stomach, a top brand and tastes really good too. Dear Michelle, I wouldn't recommend using whey protein to lose weight. The best way to lose weight is simple. Burn more calories than you consume. When you wake up in the morning go for a long swift walk or jog. Go to the gym or even at home do at least half an hour of cardiovascular exercise. Swimming is great and so is cycling. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and cut down on the carbohydrates. Instead of white bread, white pasta, and white rice, which contain a lot of starch and carbohydrates replace them with whole grain bread, pasta and rice. If you want to lose weight, I would recommend you eat more lean chicken breast and fish like salmon. You need to have a high protein and high fiber diet if you want to lose weight, so start the day with porridge with mixed seeds and dried fruit and have a light and healthy lunch. Snack on carrot sticks with low fat humus or fruit and in the evening have fish or chicken breast with steamed vegetables and jersey or new potatoes. Eat four hours before sleeping. Also I would recommend anyone trying to lose weight go for a walk around the block a few times. I would also recommend green tea or peppermint tea after an evening meal which is great for digestion and a great source of antioxidants. Dear Sunset take whey protein within twenty minutes after your strength workout. I myself only take whey protein after a workout and not after cardiovascular workouts. There is no real evidence of a direct link of calcium deficiency in taking too much whey protein but too much of something is never good so just continue taking it just after strength workouts and remember to have a good balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables. Also have a handful of nuts and seeds everyday which will do wonders for lowering cholesterol. Dear Emily I will leave your question for the doctor. Dear Keisha I would recommend you take a large glass of Organic Soy milk because of the fact that you are lactose intolerant and put it in a blender. Put a banana in there and some oats. Put a couple of ice cubes in there and blend for around 20-30 seconds and you have a yummy sweet shake that is also good for you. Try replacing the soy with rice milk at times as it is best to diversify what your shake contains. Hope that helped.

Hi Keisha, have you considered using a hemp protein powder? I like one put out by Living Harvest that is organic and has Fiber which helps take my appetite away. It has one gram of sugar and carbohydrates are seven grams with most of it from fiber. Also it has no milk at all.

Hello. I've recently lost a little over twenty-two pounds with Weight Watchers. In the process about a month ago, I just stopped eating meat. Little by little meat just became not as appealing to me. I guess you can say I've become vegetarian. I am not though Vegan. I eat hard boiled egg whites with my lunch sometimes, milk with my coffee and could never give up cheese. I even have cottage cheese and fruit for lunch almost three times a week. My question is though, I have been having a Labrada lean body for her protein shake in the mornings. Is there another protein shake you can recommend? What else would you recommend for someone like me who has just become vegetarian, thanks, Jamie?

Hi Jamie, you may want to try hemp, or brown rice protein powder.

Dear Cerys, You might want to check into Tony Horton Workouts, and the BeachBody weight loss formulas, too. Although I have not tried them, the results people are getting with the ten minute workout and the companion formulas are quite impressive, plus it is fun to be a part of a group of like minded people who have the same motivation to get fit and healthy. My guess is there formulas would be balanced.

I have just taking whey protein recently. However there is irregularity causes to my menstrual cycle recently. Is it just a coincidence or is it due to the side effects of protein? My menstrual cycle recently takes about 7 days as usual, but comes again after one week.