No Whey, Man. I’ll Pass on the Protein Powder

For the previous fifteen years, I’ve been carefully concerned with the bodybuilding trade. I’ve an intimate understanding of how the trade operates. In a nutshell, it’s sustained by the complement corporations that sponsor the athletes who signify them. This in flip conjures up followers who admire the athletes to buy the merchandise they signify, thus making a cycle that drives report gross sales and income, all of the whereas doubtlessly harming the well being of many concerned within the trade afterward down the road.

Two of my favourite skilled bodybuilders, Nasser El Sonbaty and Mike Matarazzo, just lately died of their forties, doubtless from diet-related well being points. Perhaps, their deaths have been a results of an excessive amount of protein consumption, coupled with the usage of efficiency enhancing substances day after day till their organs failed. Now they’re gone. This isn’t a uncommon incidence in bodybuilding. Although bodybuilders train greater than the common individual, the speed of bodybuilders affected by diet-related well being issues is commonly extra widespread than the final American public falling sick to diet-related ailments. Clearly, there’s a drawback that must be addressed.

If there’s one factor within the sport of bodybuilding that’s as widespread as weight coaching, it’s the usage of dietary supplements. No complement is extra broadly consumed than protein powder. The powders of selection amongst mainstream bodybuilders are whey and casein, that are proteins derived from cow’s milk. In reality, these are the substances of selection for many protein powder shoppers worldwide.
Athletes from all walks of life embrace the consumption of extra protein beneath the idea that extra is healthier. Many corporations (and whole industries) have gone to nice lengths to persuade the general public that they should hunt down excessive protein meals and eat as a lot protein as potential, with no consideration of the well being penalties that accompany extra consumption. The give attention to consuming giant quantities of protein is so engrained in our tradition, there are sometimes warnings given out by buddies and kinfolk of these following a plant-based food regimen that protein might be onerous to return by with out consuming animal merchandise. That’s one other approach protein dietary supplements squeeze their approach into the diets of residents in all places, by the unwarranted worry that we received’t get sufficient of this particular nutrient, suggesting whey and casein as believable aids on this quest.

Years in the past, I discovered from Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s e-book, written along with his son, Dr. Thomas Campbell, The China Research, that casein has the power to activate and switch off most cancers development just by adjusting the extent of consumption of that protein. This was decided by years of scientific trials, experiments, and exams, which yielded these outcomes, and are outlined intimately in Dr. Campbell’s analysis. His findings present that when casein is consumed in giant portions, most cancers cells enhance in measurement, and when there’s a cessation in consumption of casein, most cancers tumor cells recede.^[1] I later discovered that elevated ranges of protein also can trigger kidney harm, liver issues, kidney stones, extra fats achieve, contribute to the damaging of the liner of artery partitions, result in plaque construct up in arteries, lead to lethargy, diminish bone density, and trigger a bunch of different well being issues. If that is actually the case, because it has been revealed by Dr. Campbell and quite a few different world famend specialists who got here to the identical conclusions by experimentation, commentary, and scientific analysis, why are these merchandise consumed at such excessive ranges? With their direct correlations to elevated threat of illness, why is casein, which has been linked to diseases comparable to prostate most cancers, greater than every other protein, allowed to be offered in shops? Why are these merchandise even produced? In any case, who wants them, moreover calves?

If we now have particular protein powders created from cow’s milk for human consumption, it might solely make sense that it have to be as a result of our society sees a really excessive charge of protein deficiency. However, that isn’t the case in any respect. In reality, a protein deficiency is nearly remarkable in America and solely exists in somebody who doesn’t eat ample energy. The explanation that is so, is due to the macronutrient make-up of meals. Meals is just made up of proteins, fat, carbohydrates, and water (and typically alcohol). Some stage of protein is current in all meals, and in important portions in particular varieties of meals comparable to beans and different legumes, nuts, seeds, leafy inexperienced greens, different greens and grains. The quantity of protein required by the human physique (5-10% of whole energy per day) is comparatively low compared to the opposite macronutrients. It’s subsequently inconceivable to be protein poor when ample energy are consumed. That is how nature works. In actuality, most individuals in developed nations, together with these following a plant-based food regimen, eat an excessive amount of protein, not the opposite approach round.^[2] We clearly don’t have a well being or dietary want for whey or casein protein powders, so why are they right here, why are they so in style, so widespread, and why is their use so occasionally questioned?

A part of the reply lies on this planet of bodybuilding and the magazines, books, web sites, athletes, and different people that feed the trade. The group that I’ve been a part of for therefore lengthy is a key think about preserving these antiquated concepts about protein alive. It’s subsequently my (and others’) mission to successfully dispel these myths by displaying a more healthy option to assist health objectives with out the usage of any substances that got here from a cow’s udder. As a semi-retired bodybuilder and present well being and wellness advocate and multi-sport athlete, I endorse a whole-food, plant-based food regimen for optimum outcomes, even when bodybuilding. I goal to place the will for elevated ranges of protein to relaxation by displaying how a comparatively low protein, whole-food, plant-based food regimen can assist all athletic endeavors successfully and effectively. I’ve achieved nice outcomes as a plant-based athlete for the previous 20 years, and have sought to steer by instance.

If well being is your objective, clearly, your reply to cow-based protein powders needs to be, “No whey, man.” Let’s put this into perspective. For those who had to purchase a clearly labeled animal-derived fats powder and carbohydrate powder on the similar time of buy as a whey or casein protein powder, would you proceed with the acquisition? Or would it not appear so foolish to get your required macronutrients from canisters of animal by-products, the cashier on the retailer would elevate an eyebrow and query your sanity? Think about these questions the following time you concentrate on shopping for powders produced from cow secretions for correct vitamin. How about consuming one thing from a backyard as an alternative? Not solely is it a a lot more healthy selection, however contemporary produce is much more appetizing, too.

References

1. Campbell, T.C., Campbell, T.M. (2006). The China Research. Dallas, Texas: BenBella.
2. Do Vegetarians Get Sufficient Protein? (2014). Retrieved from (link).