There can be health consequences if you drink protein shakes without exercising are: (1) less muscle gain, (2) unwanted weight gain, (3) increased risk of kidney-related problems, and (4) abnormal spike in blood glucose level.
In short, if you drink a protein shake on a rest day, or a day when you're doing less than you might usually do, there's no need to worry about any adverse effects. However, if you're drinking high protein shakes on their own and not to supplement your protein intake when working out, this could cause weight gain.
Drinking an occasional protein shake without working out will have little to no positive or negative effect on the body, but if it's habitual, the excess calories can add up. A caloric surplus of 3,500 calories results in gaining one pound of body fat.
Protein shakes are an effective way to gain weight if you're unable to do so through your diet alone. As well as gaining weight, adding protein shakes to your daily diet can also increase muscle mass.
Manufacturers of protein shakes may claim that their products help decrease body fat or promote weight loss, but protein shakes aren't a magic bullet for weight loss. Replacing meals with protein shakes may help you reduce your daily calories, which can help you lose weight.
Health Risks
Replacing multiple meals per day with protein shakes over a long-term period could result in nutrient deficiencies, digestive distress, nausea, bloating, headaches, fatigue or negative interactions with certain medications. Additionally, many protein shakes get up to half their calories from sugars.
It is safe to drink protein shakes every day, but be sure to obtain the majority of your protein and other foods from whole food sources. Without whole food sources, you'll be missing out on other valuable nutrients that are vital for health and supporting your workout performance and recovery.
To be clear, there is no hard-and-fast rule about drinking protein shakes, and having too many of them in one day likely won't have any long-term detrimental effects. For most people, anywhere from one to three protein shakes per day should be plenty to help them meet their nutritional needs.
With or without working out, whey protein is a significant source of protein to support existing muscles and refill them. They are also a welcome complement to the regular meal plan and supplement options for those who have decided to go vegan for whatever cause.
It comes down to hormones and genetics. Chances are, you've probably heard before that every body is different, and on a physiological level, that's really true. For example, some bodies are primed to put on muscle more easily than others.
Whey Protein is good for losing overall fat. It can be an excellent addition to your weight loss diet as it helps to gain muscles and lose body fat including belly fat.
Will protein powder give me energy? At the end of the day, protein powder contains calories and calories mean energy for the body to burn. If you're used to having no breakfast and start drinking protein shakes in the morning, you might feel a difference in energy.
How much protein do you need? Anywhere from 10% to 35% of your calories should come from protein. So if your needs are 2,000 calories, that's 200–700 calories from protein, or 50–175 grams. The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.
People should only consume one or two protein shakes daily and for a short time only. It is also best to choose a protein shake that fulfills part of a healthful diet. For instance, a person who does not eat many vegetables might choose a meal replacement protein shake that contains vegetables.
In addition to promoting weight loss and rounding out your diet, drinking a protein shake first thing in the morning may be especially beneficial for your workout routine. Protein is necessary for tissue repair and muscle growth and can help your body recover after an intense workout ( 9 ).
High doses can cause some side effects such as increased bowel movements, acne, nausea, thirst, bloating, reduced appetite, tiredness, and headache.
There's no known safety limit for protein powder. Most research shows healthy people can tolerate up to 1.5 grams of protein per pound (3.3 grams per kg) of body weight per day from both food and protein supplements with no side effects.
Women use protein powder for a variety of reasons, including muscle growth, speeding recovery after workouts and stimulating weight loss. These supplements provide a concentrated source of high-quality protein in a versatile and easy-to-use powder, which can be added to shakes, smoothies and many more recipes.
Replacing meals with high protein shakes eliminates excess calories and fat from your diet and leads to weight loss. When you reduce calories and remove the option of food, you can expect to lose three to four pounds a week.
Whey Protein Can Boost Fullness Quickly
It contains all the essential amino acids and is absorbed quickly in the body ( 31 ). Whey protein has been linked to some impressive benefits, including greater weight loss, improved satiety and better body composition ( 32 , 33 ).
Protein shakes promote muscle gain and improve performance and recovery. They also prevent muscle loss and may even help increase muscle mass during weight loss.
A high enough level of protein in your diet boosts your metabolism (the rate at which your body uses calories). This means you burn more calories a day -- even at rest -- than you would on a lower-protein diet.
“One day of drinking several [four-plus] protein shakes likely won't cause harm but may be quite uncomfortable physically,” says Monica Auslander Moreno, MS, RD, LD/N, a registered dietitian in Miami. She says consuming too much protein can lead to GI symptoms that may include: Stomach upset. Gas.
It is not bad if you have 3 protein shakes a day, but make sure you do not cross your daily protein goals and your daily calorie range. Regardless of what you consume, keep your macro and calorie goals in check. Protein powder is a supplement. You should try and get most or all your nutrients from whole foods.