The harm of protein supplements for bodybuilding The following is a detailed statement of the harms of nutritional supplements for bodybuilding: The possibility of protein powders containing unsafe substances The US Food and Drug Administration considers protein powder a type of nutritional supplement, and it leaves it to the manufacturer to evaluate the safety of nutritional supplements, and to put labels on them There is no way to know if a protein powder contains what the manufacturer claims, to learn more about that you can read the “Are there unsafe types of protein supplements” below.

 Lack of information on the long-term effects of protein supplements Currently, there is very limited data available on the potential side effects of taking large amounts of protein as a supplement.

The possibility of causing digestive problems People with lactose intolerance, intolerance to dairy products, or difficulty in digesting lactose (milk sugar) can suffer from digestive discomfort and discomfort if milk protein powder is used


Sugars and Calories Some protein powders may contain a small amount of added sugar, and some types may contain a very high amount of sugar that may reach 23 grams per scoop,

 so eating them can increase the risk of high blood sugar levels than The normal rate, and the American Heart Association has indicated the maximum daily consumption of added sugar as follows: 25 grams for women, and 36 grams for men.

Or even from food alone, many harms, including the following: Gaining fat, as adding protein in the form of a powder to the diet leads to adding calories to the total daily consumption, and in the absence of heat By doing enough physical activity, or lifting enough weight to build more muscle, the extra calories are likely to turn into fat.

This is due to the body's inability to store the excess protein in its original form. In the body, it turns it into fat, which is something that a person may not want when adding protein powder to the diet. The body tries to restore the acid balance by the kidneys excreting more acids, and the skeleton secretion of calcium, which acts as an acid neutralizer, then calcium is excreted in the urine outside the body, and this results in the loss of calcium from the bones, which may increase the risk of osteoporosis in the long run. , especially in groups at risk of osteoporosis, such as women.


 Causing harm to people with kidney problems Diets rich in protein can cause increased pressure on the kidneys due to the formation of waste products. An excess called ketones, which are compounds that are usually generated when following a high-protein diet and there is a need to eliminate products used in this diet. It may lead to decreased kidney function in people who have healthy kidneys if this diet is followed for a long period of time. Eating enough carbohydrates, a condition in which toxic ketones accumulate in the body, then the kidneys try to get rid of these substances, and a lot of fluids are lost during this process, such as: urine, which increases the risk of dehydration, especially when more fluid is lost During sweating during exercise.

Dehydration not only puts pressure on the kidneys, but can affect heart function in severe cases, and other side effects of dehydration can include: dizziness, lethargy, and bad breath.

 Protein supplements and their types Many gym goers and weightlifters talk about the protein shake that is usually drunk after exercise, and protein powder has become increasingly popular as one of the nutritional supplements, which is consumed in several ways, including: a protein shake or drink.

 Types of protein supplements and their components vary. Types of proteins used for bodybuilding, and in fact, vegetable protein is available for bodybuilding, such as: soybeans, peas, rice, and potatoes, and it is also available from animal protein sources, such as: eggs, milk from casein protein, and whey protein.

 Protein contains other ingredients, such as: added sugars, artificial flavors, thickeners, vitamins, and minerals, and the amount of protein can vary from one type to another, and the rate of protein per scoop ranges from 10-30 grams, and protein supplements used to build muscle contain a high percentage of protein , while protein supplements used for weight loss contain less protein.


Are there unsafe types of protein supplements? Before consuming a specific protein supplement; Its quality must be ensured, as some types of proteins can be high in heavy metals and toxins. Researchers noted in a 2018 report by the Clean Label Project about toxins in protein powders after examining 134 products. Many protein powders contain heavy metals, such as: lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury, in addition to Bisphenol-A, a chemical compound used in the manufacture of plastics. Some types of supplements also contain pesticides and pollutants. Other toxins are associated with an increased risk of cancer and other health conditions.

 Some toxins have been found in high quantities, for example a certain protein powder contained 25 times the permissible limit of bisphenol A, and the report showed that pollutants come from manufacturing processes, or as a result of Plants absorb toxins in the soil, which turn into protein powders, and not all protein powders tested contained elevated levels of toxins.

Doctors of the Meddose medical team explained to Al-Khobar TV that “many young people resort to building their muscles significantly through protein powders, which are a form of protein extracted from plants (soybeans, peas, rice, potatoes), eggs and milk (casein protein). Some proteins can contain additional sugars, flavorings, vitamins and minerals.”


Supplements used to build muscle contain higher amounts of protein, and some trainees use it, before, during or even after a workout, and others take it as a snack between meals.


Eating protein leads to several potential risks, including “the materials that they are manufactured and packaged with are not 100% natural, and nutrition experts say that there is limited data on the potential side effects of high protein in supplements, which makes long-term side effects not fully known.”


In the long run, the proteins cause osteoporosis or a deterioration in the disturbed kidney function, with the possibility of indigestion or sensitivity due to the presence of lactose sugar for those who suffer from lactose intolerance, if products based on milk sugar are used.


Proteins increase the risk of obesity and heart disease because they contain high levels of sugar and calories, as well as heavy contents such as lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and bisphenol A as well as pesticides and other substances responsible for many cancers and other health problems.


Nutrition experts advise eating natural foods rich in protein, such as low-fat milk products (milk, cheese) and legumes (beans, lentils), in addition to fish and poultry, with an amount of 56 grams of protein for men, and 46 grams for women per day, through one egg for breakfast with a cup of milk and one or two pieces of cooked chicken.


It is worth noting that after stopping the protein, the person will lose muscle mass that was supported by the protein, emphasizing that muscle building continues for years and not just weeks or months.

What types of foods contain proteins?

 After talking about the effect of proteins on the kidneys, we will talk about foods that contain proteins, as it is important to eat the right amount and the right type of protein to get its health benefits, and the following will be mentioned the most important and prominent foods rich in protein, which include the following: 

Food Seafood: Seafood is an excellent source of protein as these foods are usually low in fat. Milk products: Milk, cheese, and yogurt are rich sources of protein, in addition to containing calcium and vitamin D, which are important in maintaining healthy teeth and preventing osteoporosis. Eggs: An important form of protein, the American Heart Association says healthy adults can eat an egg a day.

 Soybeans: Soybeans are a form of vegetable protein that can be eaten in place of high-fat protein sources. Soybeans contribute to lowering cholesterol and maintaining a healthy heart. Beef: Beef contains protein, in addition to being excellent sources of zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. White Meat Poultry: Poultry is also a protein-rich food. Cereals: Cereals contain a high amount of protein, as the protein in half a cup of cereal is equivalent to the amount of protein in a ounce of meat.


Protein damage to bodybuilders: The many health benefits of protein do not come without compensation. Excessive consumption of (industrial) protein causes a poisoning called protein poisoning. Symptoms of this poisoning include nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, kidney damage, diabetes (resulting from For kidney damage), heart disease (caused by kidney damage), permanent high blood pressure (caused by kidney damage), as any diet that contains excessive amounts of protein will lead to chronic damage to the body; This is in contrast to the expected results of eating protein in an ideal


 manner. Damage to industrial proteins for bodybuilding: Excessive consumption of industrial proteins and not drinking enough water, may lead to irreversible health damages. The damages of industrial proteins include protein damage in general, but the probability of these damages doubles; Due to the fact that synthetic proteins contain concentrated amounts of protein. One of the damages that artificial protein is specific to kidney stones is weight gain, as kidney stones, if not treated, lead to kidney failure and the kidney stops completely from its work, so the patient is forced to dialysis on a daily basis. Tips that it is preferable to adhere to when using industrial proteins for bodybuilders: Drink large amounts of water in separate batches during the day. And eat the required amount of proteins without overdoing.


 Not only eating the daily need of protein; And that is through nutritional supplements, but useful foods high in protein must be introduced to the diet. Regular medical examinations, such as blood tests. You should visit your doctor immediately if you feel kidney pain or any abnormal symptoms. Cheating in the sale of nutritional supplements. It is always preferable not to buy any nutritional supplement from unknown companies, to read the expiry date of the product on the package before buying it, in addition


 to staying away from any seller of these products that is not approved or unreliable. There are also some sellers of these products who falsify the expiry dates to avoid damaging them; As synthetic proteins lose their usefulness and become harmful in the event of their expiration date. The fraud of some sellers has also amounted to falsifying the entire product, by filling the packages with unknown powders with flavours added to it. It is preferable to inform the responsible authorities if such sellers are found.