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Negative side effects of whey protein for women

Protein shakes are used by people who want to build stamina, or lose weight drastically. There could be various diets that are recommended. One such diet is to include whey protein in your daily food. It is important to note that whey protein can have several side effects on women who consume excessive quantities on a regular basis. An average woman should have about 40 gms of whey protein in her diet. Read on to know a few side effects of consuming whey protein:

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a medical condition wherein bones become weak, porous and brittle. They could get fractured while you are bending or during a fall. Having a low level of minerals in your bones (like calcium) could result in osteoporosis. Specially in case of women, the intake of excess whey protein could cause osteoporosis because the amino acids break down and move into your blood during digestion of the protein, thus raising acidity in your blood. According to research, the body must have a balanced pH level, in order to ensure that calcium is pulled from the bones in the body in order to neutralize acidity. Hence, the more protein is taken, the higher is the acidity in your blood and therefore more calcium is needed by the body. While using whey protein as a supplement, you must be vary of overdose as this could cause calcium build up in your body, further leading to kidney stones as well as organ damage. The right amount of whey protein can differ from woman to woman depending on age and weight. Therefore, it is important that you consult your doctor before starting its consumption. In case of overdose, there will be continued treatment for a few years before the problem can be resolved completely.

Kidney and liver damage

The kidneys are essential for regulating the acid base balance, maintaining the blood pressure as well as regulation of the electrolytes in the human body. The liver is a vital organ too. It helps protein synthesis and also does the detoxification in the body. The excessive intake of whey protein may not lead to liver or kidney damage in healthy women. However, the human body does not store excess protein. Any excessive intake of protein will be excreted by your liver and kidneys. Women with a chronic health condition such as kidney or liver disease will be at risk if they include excess protein in their diet. They would not be able to excrete the excessive quantity and thus, it could prove hazardous to them. Such women should consult their doctor before consuming whey protein in their daily diet and also monitor the amount being consumed by them. If there is pain of any sort, they must immediately consult their doctor as neglect could lead to severe complications.

Allergic reaction

The hypersensitivity disorder of your immune system is known as allergy. A person’s immune system may react upon consumption of a generally, harmless substance. This shows that the person is allergic to that given substance. Women who have milk allergy or suffer from lactose intolerance could be at risk to develop an allergic reaction to consumption of whey protein. Women who have such allergy should not take whey protein in their diet. Women in their mid thirties could be more prone to such allergies. Symptoms include rashes, hives, swelling or itching of the face, sometimes throat or tongue too. Some women suffer from shortness of breath and could face trouble in breathing. An allergic reaction is a serious medical condition that requires immediate medical care and attention. Sometimes, neglect of an allergic reaction could result in long term damage to the body. Hence, it is vital to consult a medical practitioner if there is an allergic reaction to consumption of the whey protein.

Headache

A headache could be due to various reasons such as an underlying health problem or due to consumption of certain drugs or medication. One of the side effects of consuming whey protein in your daily diet could be a mild headache. If you are including small amount of whey protein in your diet, and you identify a pattern in your headaches, you should stop the consumption and consult your doctor. Both men and women suffer from such a reaction and it may not necessarily be the same for people of a particular age group. However, most headaches can be treated easily as medication is available in most areas today and hence need not be a cause for worry.

Ketosis

It is very essential to have a balanced diet. If you include too much protein in your diet, and do not have enough carbohydrates, you could suffer from ketosis. This is a condition where the body will break down the fats into ketones, and use the same to gain energy. Hence, it is very important to include sufficient carbohydrates in your daily diet. Women should not substitute whey protein shakes for their daily intake of food. Also, you must ensure that you do not take more than 40 gms of whey protein as that is the amount of protein that an average woman requires daily.

Obesity

Proteins can be easily stored and converted into fats as compared to other foods. A diet that includes whey protein could result in sudden weight gain in a person. This is because the protein gets easily converted into adipose tissue and this accumulated in your body. A high dosage of whey protein on a daily basis could lead to obesity in a person. Most women in their forties suffer from this problem. It is therefore, important to monitor your weight while you are on a whey protein diet. If you notice any such sharp increase in your weight, you should reduce the quantity of whey protein that you consume on a daily basis. Also include exercise as part of your daily routine. This would help avoid excessive weight gain.

Dehydration

The hydration of your body is directly affected by the quantity of whey protein that you consume daily. Recent research shows that a higher level of protein in your diet means higher amount of nitrogen in your blood. This could lead to abnormal kidney function. Most women who consume whey protein on a daily basis, have higher concentrated urine. However, you may not feel any change in your thirst. This is due to the excessive protein in your diet. It is vital to include 8-10 glasses of water per day, in order to avoid dehydration. Keeping yourself well hydrated is essential in order to be healthy.

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