WHEY PROTEIN SIDE EFFECTS FAQS

Whey Protein Side Effects Frequently Asked Questions

What is whey protein?

Whey protein is a high-quality protein naturally found in dairy. It is a complete protein containing all of the essential amino acids (“building blocks”) your body needs and is easy to digest. Whey protein is also one of the best sources of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) including leucine, which has been shown to stimulate muscle synthesis. No whey protein side effects have been reported.

How is whey protein made?

Whey is one of two major proteins found in cow’s milk. Whey protein is produced during the process of making cheese, which begins when special enzymes are added to milk causing it to separate. The curds are used to make cheese, leaving behind whey protein in the liquid portion. This liquid whey is then pasteurized and dried into whey protein powder for various uses.

Are some protein sources better than others?

The quality of protein varies. High-quality, “complete” protein sources include animal-based proteins such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and whey protein. These foods supply all of the essential amino acids the body needs to build and maintain muscle and to function properly. Protein found in most plant foods, including legumes, seeds, nuts, vegetables, and grain products, is considered “incomplete” protein because it lacks some of the essential amino acids needed daily.

What are the health benefits of Optimum Whey Protein powders?

Maintain a Healthy Weight: Whey protein, as part of a higher protein, reduced calorie diet, may improve the quality of weight loss by helping people lose more fat and/or maintain more lean muscle.2,3,4
Curb Hunger: Calorie for calorie, whey protein can help people feel fuller longer than carbohydrates or fats.5,6,7
Get Lean: Consuming whey protein as part of a higher protein diet and performing resistance exercise regularly can help build more lean muscle than resistance training alone or resistance training combined with carbohydrate consumption.8,9
Enhance Recovery: Consuming whey protein during and/or after endurance exercise may help reduce muscle soreness and may improve muscle function and/or performance in the next workout.10,11,12
Reduce Muscle Loss: Muscle declines as we age, but including whey protein at each meal may be a good way to help reduce this loss, which can help us be active longer in life.13,14,15

How much whey protein does a person need?

Most people need at least 0.4 grams of protein for every pound of body weight to meet basic protein requirements.16 If you regularly engage in endurance exercise or strength training, you may benefit from up to twice this amount.17 To find out how much protein you should be getting, visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org/wheyprotein and click on the downloadable worksheet, Assessing Your Daily Protein Intake.

Can a person get too much protein?

The Institute of Medicine recommends that 10 to 35 percent of the total calories we consume each day should come from protein.5 Although most people meet minimum protein requirements at the low end of this recommended range, many more may benefit from a moderately higher protein intake.4,16,18

What is the difference between whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, andhydrolyzed whey protein?

Whey protein isolate contains a higher concentration of protein per gram thanwhey protein concentrate because other ingredients, including lactose, fat, and some vitamins and minerals, are removed. Both offer health benefits and are used in various foods and powders.
Hydrolyzed whey protein is created when the protein chains are broken down into smaller chains of amino acids called “peptides”. This form of whey protein is most commonly used in infant formulas, medical protein supplements, and some sports drinks.

Does whey protein have a gritty or unpleasant taste like some other protein powders?

Whey protein has a clean, neutral flavor. When used in food manufacturing, it adds little or no taste. Whey protein dissolves easily in liquids and does not have a gritty mouth feel.

Can people who are lactose intolerant eat whey protein?

If you are lactose intolerant, or sensitive to lactose, the natural sugar found in milk products, you may be able to tolerate whey protein isolate, which contains very little lactose. The amount of lactose in whey protein concentrate is higher. As always, it is important to contact the manufacturer as lactose content can vary from product to product.

Does whey protein contain gluten or wheat protein?

Whey protein does not contain any wheat protein or gluten. However, whey protein bars and beverages often contain added wheat-based ingredients, so be sure to check the ingredients list.

Where can Optimum Whey Protein be found?

Optimum Whey Protein can be found in powders, drink mixes, energy bars, yogurt, and other foods. Products with whey protein as a major source of protein will list “whey protein isolate”, “whey protein concentrate”, or “hydrolyzed whey protein” near the beginning of the ingredients list. Whey protein powder is very convenient and can be added to smoothies, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, soup or other common foods.

Frequently Asked Questions
1Norton et al. J Nutrition. 2006;136:533S-7S. 2Layman et al. J Nutrition. 2005;135:1903-1910. 3Leidy et al. Obesity. 2007;15(2):421-9. 4Westerterp-Plantanga et al. Annu Rev Nutr. 2009;29:11.1-11.21. 5 Institute of Medicine, Panel on Macronutrients and Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Macronutrients and healthful diets. Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2002/2005. 6Smeets et al. J Nutr. 2008;138(4):698-702. 7Beasley et al. AM J Epidemiol. 2009;169(7):893-900. 8Tang et al. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007;32:1132-8. 9Burke et al. Intl J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001;11(3):349-64. 10Romano Ely et al. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006; 38(9). 11Luden et al. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2007;17(1):109-123. 12Valentine et al. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2008;18(4):363-378. 13Paddon-Jones et al. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009;12:86-90. 14 Institute of Medicine, Panel on Macronutrients and Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Protein and amino acids. Dietary reference intakes for energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids. Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2002/2005. 15ADA, Dietitians of Canada, ACSM Position Statement, J Am Diet Assoc, 2009;109:509-27. 16Gaffney-Stomberg et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2009; 57:1073-1079.