#informedconsumer

Whey Safe of Dangerous? 

There are a lot of concerns being raised recently with whey protein supplements; there are valid reasons for concern. Whey is essentially isolated milk protein; cows are given antibiotics and hormones in modern farming practices. I don’t really think that’s a secret to most people, however, what may be elusive to people who are aware of this is that you actually don’t have to be concerned about whey- at least not from these factors. Whey is tested so that antibiotics are not present, and the growth hormones are in extremely low concentrations because they are transported by fat cells- and does not have an affinity to bind protein. Obviously you may be concerned about even low concentrations of hormones, however, the hormones present whey are structurally different from those in humans and essentially do not have an effect within the human body.

Are they safe? The answer is a little more convoluted, unfortunately. The final word is essentially that it is likely safe for most adults when used as recommended. However, there are many potential side effects that can be attributed to the use of whey protein.

Caution is advised for people with diabetes or low blood sugar levels because whey protein may alter blood sugar levels.

Caution is advised in people with bleeding disorders or in those taking blood thinners,, as whey protein may increase the risk of bleeding.

Whey protein may also interfere with the way the body processes certain drugs using a specific liver enzyme that is also responsible for metabolizing many toxins, including alcohol and acetaminophen.

Caution is advised in people with low blood pressure/hypotension, as whey may lower blood pressure.

Caution is advised for people with stomach or intestine disorders.

Avoid using whey protein long-term and in excessive amounts- 6 month duration is the suggested time period to use whey.

It is important to be aware of this when drinking, as someone who uses whey, especially extensively, may have a lower tolerance to alcohol- from a toxicity standpoint; less available enzyme for metabolizing alcohol.

Vegan Protein

For those of us who are interested in reducing or eliminating our intake of animal products in our diet, the tricky part has always been figuring out how to get enough protein from plants. Whole-food plant proteins are healthy, but getting enough for intense physical training will probably come along with some unfavourable digestive effects (gas and bloating). Plant-based supplemental proteins can definitely help mitigate these issues, but which protein source is best? Soy is a common choice because it is extremely cost-efficient, however, soy isolate has the potential to disrupt the balance of sex hormones and is one of the most commonly genetically modified crops on the planet... 

So, what’s good and why? I’m so glad you asked:

RICE: a team of researchers from University of Tampa concluded that rice should effectively be able to replace whey as a protein isolate. In their study, two different groups of male athletes took the same amount of whey and rice protein- one per group. In higher doses (48g), rice protein is comparably effective to whey protein in increasing lean body mass, strength, and power. Most significant is the fact that whey protein is fast-digesting protein, whereas rice protein digests slightly slower and more consistently, and is hypoallergenic, as well as fat, sugar, and sodium-free. 

PEA: a common criticism of rice protein is that it is low in the amino acid lysine- important for human growth and bone health. Pea protein is rich in lysine and a number of other amino acids such as arginine and glutamic acid; both lend support during intense physical exertion and recovery. Pea protein also offers an impressive amount of crucial branched-chain amino acids isoleucine, leucine, and valine, which have been shown to contribute to muscle protein synthesis and support recovery from exercise. 

FORMALDEHYDE-DONATING PRESERVATIVES: slowly and continuously release small amounts of formaldehyde- a known carcinogen. It can be inhaled from cosmetics through a process known as “off-gassing”. Laboratory studies also suggest that formaldehyde in cosmetics can be absorbed through the skin. There is a restriction on the amount of formaldehyde allowed in cosmetics in Canada (up to 0.2% in most products). However, there is no restriction on the low-levels of formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

TRICLOSAN: preservative in cosmetics to prevent microbial growth and protect from spoilage. It is also used in laundry detergent, facial tissues, and antiseptics. It can pass through the skin and is suspected to interfere with hormone function; the US CDC detected triclosan in the urine of nearly 75% of those tested (2,517 people ages six and up). The EU classifies it as a skin and eye irritant and as extremely toxic to aquatic life, potentially causing long-term adverse effects in the environment. It is bioaccumulative and does not degrade easily; building up within the environment. The Canadian Medical Association has called for a ban on the antibacterial consumer products, such as those containing triclosan. Health Canada allows concentrations of 0.03% in mouthwashes and 0.3% in other cosmetics. The problem is that triclosan is used in so many products that small amounts in each product add up- especially since the chemical does not degrade. It has been flagged by Environmental for future assessment.

Look for them in your products- they are one of the most environmentally irresponsible ingredients and completely unnecessary to use. It's cutting corners for more profits! 

Microbead ingredient names:

Polyethylene (PE)

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

Nylon polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Polypropylene (PP)