Sport: is taking protein powder dangerous for your health?

Many athletes consume protein powder supplements to gain muscle mass, which is also nicknamed “prot” or “whey” in the bodybuilding world. But are their effects really safe for health?

This white powder is mixed with water or milk in a shaker, and athletes consume it before and / or after a weight training session.

Concretely, “whey” generally comes from whey that has been dehydrated and from which the carbohydrates and lipids have been extracted. It can also come from animal or vegetable proteins, more suitable for a person intolerant to lactose. No presence of toxic product is to be noted but one can find there sweeteners and other supplements which can be added according to the quality of the product. The only contraindication is the dosage.

An intake that exceeds 5 grams per kilo could cause renal failure and muscle disorders, which is why the National Food Safety Agency (ANSES) strongly advises against people with cardiovascular risk factors or suffering from heart disease or impaired kidney or liver function from consuming these food items. Mixtures or associations with drugs are also singled out, as are products that do not comply with the law. Only those presenting the AFNOR NF V 94-001 (July 2012) standard are tolerated, says Doctissimo.

Proteins in the diet

“Protein powder is pure food while normal dietary proteins are associated with fibers, vitamins, trace elements … So it is important to think above all to eat balanced”, says, on Passeport Santé, Catherine Solano , general practitioner.

A normal diet actually already provides all the necessary proteins, they are found in particular in meat (white and red), eggs, fish and seafood, cold meats (preferably lean), cheese and dairy products, and on the vegetarian side, in legumes, such as dried beans or lentils, spirulina, soybeans, seitan, nuts and other seeds (hemp, squash, chia, flax), chickpeas, or even quinoa.