Whey protein is a protein found in whey, the watery portion of milk that is released from the curd when cheese is made.
Whey protein is commonly used to improve athletic performance and increase strength, but the evidence for this use is mixed. Whey protein is also used to reverse weight loss in people living with HIV and to prevent allergic conditions in infants.
Many people think that whey protein is a steroid and contains harmful anabolic compounds. Let’s find out if this is true or not.
Is Whey Protein a Steroid?
This is an ancient myth, but it is a milk protein extracted from milk during the cheese-making process.
The remaining liquid from the curd preparation process by curdling milk is known as whey water. In addition to being the best source of whey protein, whey water is naturally rich in a variety of nutrients.
This liquid is enriched with some more nutrients and has been refined to create commercial whey protein formulas.
How Does The Whey Work?
Whey protein is a protein source that can improve the nutrient content of the diet. Whey protein can also affect the immune system.
Pros of Whey Protein
Athletic performance. Most healthy youth who perform strength training show that consuming whey protein increases strength and muscle mass. Whey protein intake also improves running speed and post-workout recovery in untrained adults. Whey protein seems to act like soy, chicken, or beef protein, increasing muscle strength. Eczema (atopic dermatitis). Some research suggests that feeding babies with a whey protein formula in the first 3–12 months of life can reduce a baby’s risk of developing eczema by three years of age.
Prone to allergies and allergic reactions (atopic disease). Research shows that infants who consume whey protein by mouth during the first 3-12 months of life are less prone to allergies and allergic reactions than infants who receive standard formula. Consumption of whey protein may be useless in the treatment of atopic diseases.
Forced weight loss in people with HIV / AIDS. Some research suggests that taking whey protein can help reduce weight loss in people with HIV.
Scaly, itchy skin (psoriasis). Some studies have shown that taking whey protein extract daily for eight weeks can reduce psoriasis symptoms.
Cons of Whey Protein
Lung disease that makes breathing difficult (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD). Some research suggests that taking whey protein daily for six weeks can reduce shortness of breath in COPD patients. But not all studies agree with this.
Bone loss in people taking drugs called corticosteroids. Research shows that drinking a whey protein drink daily for up to 2 years does not improve bone density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
Dangers of Whey Protein
While whey protein has no real side effects to worry about, I recommend buying a trusted brand. Or at least don’t buy brands that look sketchy.
Contamination of the additive. Although very unusual, there have been reports of contaminated supplements in the past. Contamination refers to unhygienic products containing steroids, prohormones or similar substances that are not explicitly indicated on the packaging.
Avoid the dangers of common sense. As I said, the risk of getting an unclean product is extremely rare. If you buy from a company with a decent reputation, you should be fine. If there are 26 typos on the label and a dead rat inside, you might want to reconsider your options.
What is a Steroid?
A steroid is a biological compound when consumed, causes an increase or abnormal growth of cells and tissues in the body. This is why some misleading trainers recommend steroids, as they can lead to abnormal muscle growth.
Excessive consumption of steroids can lead to fertility problems, weight gain, hypertension, and even, in some cases, cancer. Some hormones present in the human body are also steroids. But even these hormones cannot be introduced into the body from the outside without a prescription, since the body disposes them on its own.
There are many sagas about whey protein, like steroids. However, the fact is that whey protein is not a steroid, and some manic brands may contain steroids. When choosing additives, you need to be extremely careful.
Examples Include:
- Anabolic steroid
- Stimulants such as caffeine and amphetamines.
- Diuretics
- Food supplements such as creatine.
- Protein and amino acid supplements
What are Anabolic Steroids?
The terms “steroids,” “roids,” or “juice” generally refer to anabolic steroids, which are synthetic (artificial) substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. The term “anabolic” refers to muscle growth.