Many gym regulars add sports supplementation to their daily diet to meet daily requirements, and whey protein is the star supplement that everyone starts with.
In this sense, do you really know how to choose a good protein among so many brands and varieties that they offer us?
Although they seem all the same, it is not like that: some of them contain some ingredients not very healthy for human consumption. Also, some of these ingredients can cause unpleasant side effects.
4 ingredients to avoid when buying protein
1. C arragenin
This is an ingredient from algae that some manufacturers often add to protein, as it serves as a thickener. It is common in many foods such as dairy products and cold cuts, but above all it is usually included in foods that have a creamy appearance.
Carrageenan often causes problems in the gastrointestinal tract, numerous food allergies and some studies even say that it can create ulcers.
In general, most of the protein is usually free of this ingredient, but even so, some brands may contain it. Try to select the one that is free of it in your ingredient chart.
2. Heavy metals
It is not difficult to find proteins with the presence of heavy metals. Some may even exceed the maximum allowed values.
The origin of this type of substances is caused by the pesticides that are normally used in agriculture and that later pass to the food that is later consumed.
Therefore, if you are one of those who decides on proteins of plant origin, be very careful with these types of substances, since they are the most common in this type of food.
3. Sugar substitutes
To prevent your shake from being highly caloric, most manufacturers add sugar substitutes such as saccharin, sucralose or aspartame, among others, to give a pleasant flavor to the supplements . Some of these sweeteners have caused great controversy in countries like the US, some of them have even been banned due to their relationship with some diseases.
Try to make sure your protein contains as little of these sweeteners as possible, as they are all artificial. The best option is always the natural one.
If you want your protein shake to taste sweeter, you can try a tablespoon of honey or even a fruit smoothie to give it a better flavor.
4. Lactose
If you are lactose intolerant, the intake of this type of substances will lead you to suffer from stomachaches that are quite uncomfortable and even unbearable in some cases. To avoid this, you must read the ingredients carefully and avoid the protein that contains this substance.
Conclution
Whey protein is a good option as a protein supplement in our diet, as long as it is as natural as possible and contains the minimum of artificial substances added.
One of the best recommendations they gave me one day was to always buy foods with the least amount of ingredients. This same recommendation is what I want to make to you today: always choose the protein that has the least added substances.
Reference
- Flowler, Paige. 5 sketchy things to avoid in your protein powder. For livestrong. ⌊Revised August 2016⌋.
