Bodybuilders use protein shakes to build muscle, but at what cost?
While protein powders are popular among the weight loss and bodybuilding crowds, there are potential dangers associated with these products that can adversely affect the consumer's health. Not all protein powders are created the same, and many of them contain an array of chemicals and additives to enhance flavor or appearance. Not only that, but high doses of protein can lead to an overworked kidney and liver.
Aspartame
Aspartame is added to some protein powders as a sweetener to enhance the flavor of the protein powder. However, when aspartame is digested in the body, it breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde. Formic acid is an irritant and formaldehyde causes nerve damage. Not all protein powders contain aspartame, but some do, so it's important to check the ingredients of protein powders to determine whether or not it contains aspartame.
Other Artificial Sweeteners
Some protein powders contain artificial sweeteners, which have the potential to release various toxins into the bloodstream. While the protein powder may taste better, these toxins work to break down the body's nervous tissues. In high doses, and over time, these artificial sweeteners can do damage to the body, resulting in significant changes to the nervous system.
Acid Washing and Aluminum Content
Soy protein powders present a threat to the consumer due to the significant amounts of harmful chemicals that are used in the creation process of the soy protein powder. Particularly, the soy is acid washed, which allows high levels of aluminum to appear in the final powder. Lysinoalanine is formed during acid washing as well, and when spray dried creates nitrites, which are known carcinogens that cause cancer.
Liver and Kidney Damage
High doses of protein powder over a long period of time causes stress on the liver and kidneys. Because the liver and kidneys process and break down proteins, an excessively increased amount of protein intake causes the liver and kidneys to work harder to compensate. Overuse of protein powders can assist liver disease, or failure, as well as kidney stones and kidney failure.
Tags: protein powders, liver kidneys, protein powder, break down, doses protein, enhance flavor, high doses
