Whey Protein - the Benefits and Side-effects?


400,00,00,000 or Four hundered carores rupees, thats the estimated annual market sales of whey protein and others body-suppliment products in India.
It's obvious that anyone and almost everyone attached to the fitness and health industry doesn't want to lose making making from this exponentially growing market.
In the hoard to make a quick buck,a great majority of "fitness trainers" advocate body building suppliments without even the knowledge about the same.
I have had the chance of meeting personal trainers from the best multi-national gyms of the country to those who run shop from local establishments. The lure of making the quick buck is so strong that many such fitness centers employ people who are completely illiterate about the human body and the basics of suppliment requirement.
Just to mention a great anecdote, a few months ago, a nation wide gym had just opened its new branch next to my clinic. I accompanied a fellow doctor friend of mine to check the place out. To our surprise, one of the training instructors at that place was an ex-ward boy who had worked in my friends hospital. From his knowledge he was not even 8th class educated, and had been removed from duty because of stealing money from patients.

Whey protein can be easily one of the most abused body suppliment in India. Every single instructor advocates it. 99% of instructors have a common formula that is generally advocated for every member. Cheap fakes made from everything like milk-powder to chalk poweder are readily available and sold at all pharmacies, sports centers and super-markets.

Hereby a small educating article on some basic information about Whey protein.

1. What is Whey Protein?
Whey protein is a high quality protein supplement derived from cow's mild. Technically speaking, whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production.

2. Who Needs Whey Protein?
Protein is essential nutrient required in diet. It forms the building blocks of a healthy body. Its made of two groups of amino acids, the essential and non-essential amino acids. 
Protein needs vary from person to person according to age, weight, sex, activity level and overall health.
Whey protein that is a externally given pure protein supplement fulfills the requirement of people with higher than normal activity levels, for supporting the wear and tear of body muscles, bones and overall health.
In case of regular exercising gym goers the dosage of whey protein varies person to person in accordance to age, weight, sex, exercise time spent in the gym, diet, natural sources of protein, general medical conditions, liver function and kidney function.

3. What are Whey Protein Benefits?
Whey protein is a complete natural protein, with all the essential amino acids, it is considered the richest known source of naturally occurring branched chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine). its beneficial for:
a. stimulates protein synthesis that speeds up recovery and adaptation to stress.
b. it can increase cellular glutathione levels. Glutathione is an powerful antioxidant.
c. plays essential role in stimulating and keeping a healthy immune system.
d. consistent whey protein intake combined with exercise lead to consistent muscle building.
e.Whey protein might help T-cell activity and can also decrease wasting tissues during illness. This speeds up the overall recovery process of the ailing persons.
f. Whey protein also aids in weight loss. Protein balances blood sugar levels, while carbohydrates cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate. When the blood sugar level is balanced, dieting persons do not get tempted to eat often and thus lose fat.


4. What are Whey Protein Side Effects?
Although there is a lack of any neutral agency conducted long term study on whey protein and its effects on the body. Sporadic world wide reports have reported the following side-effects:

a. People with lactose intolerance may develop allergic reactions after having whey protein. However, two forms of this protein- whey protein isolates and hydrolysates- are recommended in such cases.
b. Increase in blood pH levels - By taking excess of protein, the blood gives your kidney a hard time in metabolizing it, and turns into acidic blood.

c. High loading of whey protein lead to inmense stress over the kidney, leading to decrease in kidney function. High possiblity of kidney stone formation.
d. Acidic blood is neutralised by the body by using calcium. This calcium is normally driven from high sources like bones. It can lead to an imbalance of minerals in the bones causing loss of bone mineral density. This can result into osteoporosis, weak bones, joint problems,  pains in joints etc.

e. extremely high doses of whey protein exerts unbearable pressure on liver and may lead to liver damage.


Thank you for reading,



 Dr.Hemant MittaL

(MBBS, PG.DPM, M.D.(Mind Mantra Wellness Concepts - Mumbai))
(Specialize in Emotional, Behavioural, Body building, Sleep, Weight loss, Memory, Concentration and Sexual Health)
Contact at -





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2 comments:

  1. faisalMay 9, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    thanks i really needed this...

    ReplyDelete
  2. laxmanJuly 27, 2011 at 5:13 AM

    Great read. Could you please tell me what is the import duty for importing whey protein from USA and what is the process involved in it?

    ReplyDelete

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