Misconceptions about whey protein

In today's protein hungry world looking for the most optimised ways to boost performance, whey protein has almost become a household name. It is the go to supplement for everyone from athletes and powerlifters, to body builders, at all levels of competition, irrespective of age or gender to meet their protein requirements. But despite being hugely popular and one of the most researched supplements in sports performance, there are still a lot of doubts and misconceptions in the society regarding the side effects and various health issues arising from whey protein consumption.

Let's look into 5 of the most common myths and whether or not they have any valid basis.

1) It is type of steroid or contains steroids.

Whey protein is made from animal milk. Normally milk contains fat, carbs and protein and several other nutrients. Whey is made by filtration and other process which extracts and isolates the protein and amino acids in the milk. Even then, the major concern, especially among the loved ones of those who consume whey is whether it contains steroids or other banned substances. But most recognised whey protein powder brands that have the approval of organisations like the FDA, etc are free of any such harmful products and clearly disclose all of their ingredients. Whey protein is a great and convenient way to hit your protein macros for your fitness goals.

2) Whey protein alone will help you build muscle

This is one of the most illogical, yet common myths based on whey protein. Muscles grow bigger because of a micro tear healing process where the muscle tissue is broken down during strenuous workout and then is repaired by biological processes using protein. But people often misunderstand this duty of protein and tend to assume that without working out, greater muscle mass can be achieved just by consuming whey. Thus we can conclude that whey protein is only effective for building muscle mass when combined with a balanced resistance or weight training program.

3) It damages the kidneys.

Research on subjects who consume whey protein showed that consumption of whey did not have any significant effect on the functioning of the kidney or the liver unless the individual had a pre existing condition of the kidney like kidney stones, in which case the stipulated amount should not be exceeded. But for healthy individuals, it has been proven that whey is safe for consumption and in fact beneficial.

4) Whey protein causes hair loss.

Whey protein is basically powdered food with majority of it constituted by protein isolate. So it's counterintuitive that something like whey could cause hair loss. An immense amount of effort has been put into researching whether whey can cause hair fall and the verdict almost always has been that it does not. On the other hand steroids or bad genetics have been proven to the main culprits for hair loss.

5) Whey protein will make you fat.

Fat by definition is a natural oily substances under the skin, which acts an emergency alternative source of energy. The calories we consume, when excess in requirement, gets stored as fat for usage when there's a caloric deficit. Therefore if you consume more calories than that your body needs, and don't exercise enough to expend them, don't be surprised if you pack on a few pounds. Some whey protein powders and pre workout protein shakes may be dense in calories and could be a reason for this misconception.

Conclusion:

Whey protein being one of the most researched performance supplement of all time, is currently one of the safest and best options for all people serious about their physique or performance. Hence such myths which have been busted mustn't deter those who are looking for dependable source to meet ones daily protein requirement.

Our team at SattvicFoods is committed to providing the highest quality scientifically formulated products and we are proud to say that our protein is free of any banned substances and is 100% pure whey protein that gives you the results you work for naturally. Manufactured from vegetarian sweet cheese using a cross-flow micro-filtration process ensures that you receive only the most pure whey protein concentrate with 19.5 grams of protein in a 25 gram scoop, to fuel the athlete in you.

Check out our Sattvic Just Whey Protein Powder