Athletes and bodybuilders often utilize whey protein powder, but it’s also used as a dietary supplement. Because it includes all nine necessary amino acids, it is helpful. It is referred to as a full protein as a result of this.
There are differing opinions on whether whey protein can help with eczema. On the plus side, it has been discovered that giving it to a child reduces the likelihood of the child developing eczema. It is also said to reduce the risk of allergies similarly.
When someone with eczema takes whey protein for whatever reason, though, the symptoms might become worse. I’ve read numerous accounts of people whose eczema symptoms worsened and spread after they began taking whey protein.
If someone has a dairy or lactose allergy, this might be one of the causes. There are several proteins in milk, but the two most prevalent are whey and casein. Whey powder is produced from the by-products of the cheese-making process. Although it does not cause as many allergies as casein, if you are allergic to whey, whey protein may cause symptoms.
Keep an eye out for new symptoms and flare-ups if you decide to try whey powder, especially if you have eczema. If you notice a change and suspect it’s the cause, you may want to consider getting an allergy test or finding a dairy-free alternative.
What Foods Should You Stay Away From If You Have Eczema?
The link between eczema and the foods you eat is complicated; we know, for example, that eczema sufferers are more susceptible to food intolerances, and while the reason for this susceptibility is yet unknown, there appears to be a correlation, with some foods inflaming or promoting eczema symptoms. Foods that tend to aggravate the symptoms of eczema include:
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Refined sugar
- Soy
Continue reading to learn why these foods may aggravate eczema symptoms and what this means for your diet in the future.
1. Dairy
It is a well-known cause of skin problems like acne and oily skin, but could it also be a cause of eczema? Perhaps, but it’s important to understand the differences in how dairy affects people who already have an intolerance or sensitivity versus those who don’t. If you are lactose intolerant and have eczema (and believe me, you are not alone! ), then any dairy products you ingest can exacerbate your eczema symptoms.
But what if you’re not lactose intolerant or hypersensitive to dairy? Certain types of dairy products, however, might still cause issues. Skimmed milk is at the top of the list because it often includes extra sugars and hormones, such as whey protein, that can still cause blood glucose levels to increase, promoting inflammation. However, milk is a good source of nutrients like calcium, potassium, and vitamin D, so is it really a good idea to eliminate it entirely from your diet?
My advice: If you’re lactose intolerant, this is a food category to avoid; but, if you’re not, you might want to consider decreasing your dairy intake rather than eliminating it. The real issue with dairy is that most of us eat far too much of it – it’s in our cereal, tea, snacks, and almost everything else! As a pleasant and healthy option, you may find it useful to incorporate a dairy-free alternative such as almond milk or oat milk into your daily routine. More ideas can be found on our Nutritionist Emma’s blog, ‘Our guide to dairy-free milk.’
2. Gluten
It is a protein found in grains such as barley, rye, and wheat that requires very specific digestive enzymes to be properly broken down. Gluten intolerance appears to make people more susceptible to skin conditions like eczema.
Because the immune system is involved in both problems, it’s possible that this is the common denominator. It’s conceivable that your body’s inability to break down gluten triggers a low-grade immune response that promotes additional inflammation – hello, eczema flare-up! Can gluten cause problems for those who aren’t lactose intolerant, as it does with dairy?
Gluten is a common component in many carb-heavy, processed foods, so it all depends on your intake and what you’re actually eating. If you eat them regularly, your digestive system will ultimately respond, and because poor digestion can worsen eczema flare-ups, this is another possible hazard to be aware of.
My advice: It all depends on how sensitive you are and how much you consume, just like with dairy. If you’re not allergic to gluten, you may not need to eliminate it entirely from your diet. Reduced gluten consumption may still be helpful, especially if you replace gluten-rich meals with healthier alternatives like fresh vegetables, lentils, beans, or other pulses. However, if you’re looking for gluten-free choices, keep in mind that while they may not contain gluten, they’re likely to include a lot of sugar and other chemicals!
3. Refined Sugar
If you’ve read any of our other articles about skin, you’ll know that this specific food product can be the devil of good skin, and eczema is no exception! It’s impossible to cover all of the bad effects that refined sugar may have on your skin, but I’ve tried to cover a few of the most common ones below.
Blood Glucose Fluctuation
Sugar has the most obvious effect on your blood glucose (sugar) levels. When you consume sugar, your blood glucose levels are raised, and insulin is produced to store any extra glucose for later use. If you constantly assault your body with sugar, though, it will grow less and less responsive to insulin over time. When your blood glucose levels are high, your body will try to remove the excess sugar through urination, which can be problematic for your skin. This can dehydrate your body, resulting in dry, itchy skin over time.
Poor Habits Of Sleep
It turns out that beauty sleep exists. However, if you consume sugary foods before bedtime, you will experience sleep deprivation. This can lead to a vicious cycle, as lack of sleep can aggravate cravings. Sleep deprivation has a detrimental influence on cortisol levels, which can inhibit the young hormone DHEA and make your skin more prone to dryness, itching, and inflammation, in addition to making you more sensitive to stress!
Gut Dysbiosis
Because your digestive system is your body’s principal means of eliminating waste, anything that goes wrong here will undoubtedly influence your eczema symptoms. Sugar, however, can change your gut flora, leading to an increase in hostile microorganisms. Because your gut contains 70% of your immune cells, this is bad news for your skin and can lead to gut dysbiosis, which promotes inflammation as well as a variety of unpleasant digestive disorders, including bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
4. Soy
Unlike sugar or gluten, soy isn’t a food that you’d immediately associate with being unhealthy or harmful to your health. Soybeans, in fact, are brimming with nutritious advantages, and they’re a significant component of our Menopause Support formula. However, if you have eczema, there is some evidence that soy and soy-based products like soy milk and tofu may aggravate your symptoms.
A study published in the Journal of Dermatology provides the majority of this evidence. The research itself, which took place in Japan, discovered that eliminating soy-based items for three months benefitted participants with eczema symptoms. 1 But why could soy be the source of a flare-up? Soybeans can be problematic even if you don’t have a specific soy allergy.
This is due to the fact that they frequently contain nickel. Because nickel is a chemical element that is commonly found in soil, it can easily be transferred to plants that grow there. The primary issue with nickel is that it may be extremely irritating for those with pompholyx eczema (also known as dyshidrotic eczema), who are particularly susceptible to this chemical. It doesn’t help that soy-based products, such as soy sauce are typically high in artificial MSGs.
MSG is a protein-building ingredient that is commonly used to improve the flavor of some meals. However, too much MSG might lower your antioxidant levels, altering how your liver detoxifies certain toxins. It’s been predicted that 35% of eczema sufferers may have worsening symptoms after eating items containing MSG.
What Happens If You Consume Whey Protein When Suffering From Skin Issues Or Allergies?
Whey can induce intolerance or allergies, which can be detrimental to your health. Lactose, a carbohydrate included in whey isolate and whey concentrate, causes whey protein intolerance. Lactose is natural sugar present in milk that is one of the most prevalent intolerances worldwide, with estimates estimating that up to 75% of individuals are lactose intolerant. When the digestive enzyme lactase is missing from the body, symptoms appear. Lactase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down lactose. Without lactase, stomach discomfort, cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea can occur.
An allergy to whey can cause a variety of symptoms because it triggers an immunological response that causes inflammation. Other symptoms, such as nasal congestion and mucus buildup, are more frequent in those who have a whey allergy. In certain situations, it isn’t even essential to consume whey before experiencing allergic symptoms. When you come into touch with whey protein powder, you could get a rash, itchy skin, or watery eyes.
Does Whey Protein Look Like An Enemy To Your Body?
Another problem with whey protein is that different kinds are utilized in protein supplements. Whey protein isolate, as the most processed form, causes irritation in the digestive tract. The majority of whey protein supplements on the market include this isolate and inflammatory components, including GMO maize, soybean oil, and artificial additives.
Even if you’ve never had a reaction to cow’s milk before, your whey protein powder or smoothie might cause inflammation. Of course, you may not recognize this at first until things begin to spiral out of control.
What Should I Do If I Have A Whey Intolerance Or Allergy?
If you don’t have lactose intolerance but do have a whey intolerance, it may seem obvious to take a protein that contains whey hydrolyze. The problem with this “solution” is that whey hydrolyze processed to the point that many proteins are denatured, which means they lose their original quaternary, tertiary, and secondary structures. Proteins lose their complete capacity to execute their job as a result of denaturation and so are less effective. Switching to a plant-based protein with the right amino acid profile will protect your body from damage.
Our bodies, as previously said, are continuously evolving. As you get older, it’s fairly unusual to acquire new intolerances or allergies to specific foods. Keeping a food record might help you figure out whether you have any future intolerances or allergies. If you already know you have an intolerance or allergy to whey, read food labels carefully before eating anything – a little quantity of whey can induce an allergic reaction.
What Are The Symptoms To Look For With An Intolerance Or Allergy To Whey?
Everyone is different, and how one person reacts to an intolerance or allergy may range dramatically from how another reacts. If you’re attempting to figure out if you have a whey intolerance or allergy, keep a food journal and keep track of when you eat whey and when the symptoms appear. It’s also a good idea to get allergy and intolerance testing done by a licensed health care provider. Below is a list of symptoms to keep an eye out for.
Intolerance to Whey:
- Distended stomach
- Stomach bloating
- Stomach cramping
- Intestinal gas
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
Allergy to Whey:
- Stuffy nose
- Watery/red eyes
- Improved generation of mucous
- Rashes on the skin
- Swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, face, around the eyes, and/or throat
- Breathing problems
- Wheezing
The bottom line is that you must pay attention to your body. There’s a difference between good and bad pain, so don’t put yourself through unnecessary suffering for something that can be simply rectified.