Like casein, whey is derived from cow's milk. While this information is reassuring for some, it can be a source of concern for others. Indeed, we sometimes hear that milk proteins could, in certain cases, have a negative impact on health.
One study(1) even suggested that certain milk proteins (caseins) promote thedevelopment of cancer cells. What's more, we've all heard of lactose intolerance.
Should we avoid whey and milk proteins? Should you swap this product for a plant-based protein powder? Don't worry! Whey, in any case, is not a carcinogenic or dangerous dietary supplement for athletes.
The results of the above-mentioned study should be treated with caution, and in any case concerned only caseins (whey contains no casein). As for lactose, whey isolate contains onlyminute traces of it. Symptoms of intolerance only appear if the consumer is particularly sensitive.
digestive problems are usually due to additives. Hence the importance of choosing a whey without additives.
Milk proteins: what's the danger?
Mankind has been consuming cow's milk for over 6,000 years. However, some people question the safety of this food. Today, some believe that cow's milk is naturally intended for calves, not humans. It is therefore unsuitable for our bodies.
Whether this statement is true or not, scientists continue to carry out research on milk. To date, no study has shown a clearly established link, or cause-and-effect relationship, between milk and the development of cancer (prostate or otherwise).
As a reminder, milk consists mainly of casein, whey, lactose, fats, minerals and water. Whey is obtained by isolating and then dehydrating whey. It then contains no casein, lactose or fat (depending on the degree of filtration).
However, the results of a study(1) may cast doubt on milk consumption: " casein proteins are thought to promote the proliferation of prostate cancer cells".
This study was carried out under 100% unreal experimental conditions, in which cancer cells (breast, lung, kidney, prostate) were grown in the laboratory and treated with liquid solutions containing varying amounts of casein, extracted directly from cow's milk.
To be precise about the result: certain types of prostate cancer cells did have their proliferation increased by casein intake, but not normal prostate cells, or even lung, kidney or breast cancer cells.
What's more, as mentioned above, these experimental conditions are in no way comparable in the real world. Indeed, to have such high concentrations of casein in direct contact with prostate cancer cells is absolutely impossible, taking into account the normal functioning of the organism.
Once again, beware of shortcuts and hasty conclusions based on the "shock" results of medical studies.
All this study tells us is that prostate cancer cells can use casein as a proliferation factor (as can glucose, for that matter), but we must not conclude from this that casein is carcinogenic.
In any case, whey does not contain casein. Whey contains only whey proteins: a complex mixture of beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactoglobulin, albumin, immunoglobulins...
Do milk proteins expose you to lactose intolerance?
Many athletes avoid whey or gainers because of lactose intolerance. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a form of allergy. This intolerance is due to a deficiency of lactase, the enzyme designed to digest lactose by splitting the molecule into galactose+glucose.
If the person concerned decides to drink milk or eat dairy products, he or she will suffer more or less severe gastrointestinal problems. In most cases, this will manifest as flatulence and bloating. However, this intolerance can also cause severe diarrhoea.
Good to know: milk protein allergy does exist. The prevalence ofCow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA ) in children ranges from 0.5% to 5%, depending on the criteria chosen. In adults, the prevalence is lower, around 2%.
It manifests itself in the first few weeks of life, with allergic reactions of varying severity following a bottle of cow's milk. Infants may experience respiratory problems or skin rashes.
This is a genuine allergy, diagnosed by an allergist and not an intolerance. The effects can be very severe, and can even lead to death. These symptoms gradually disappear as the digestive system develops.
Lactose intolerance, on the other hand, affects more people. As you'd expect, it's linked to lactose, the milk sugar. In principle, commercially available whey proteins do not cause these symptoms, as they are very low in lactose, or even lactose-free.
But you still need to know whether whey contains lactose. The manufacturing process for this dietary supplementeliminates carbohydrates, including lactose, by mechanical filtration. Whey should therefore be completely lactose-free. Nevertheless, it may contain a tiny amount. This generally corresponds to less than 1% of the drink, once reconstituted.
Lactose intolerance shouldn't put you off whey. Be aware that any digestive problems that may arise are often caused by additives. These ingredients improve the taste, texture or other aspects of whey. However, they are far from harmless.
The plant proteins presented as a vegan alternative to whey are not as beneficial as we might imagine. We often hear that these supplements are not "complete" proteins. It's true, the ratios of BCAAs and essential amino acids are much lower than those of whey.
To remedy this, some manufacturers may enrich these products with isolated and extracted BCAAs, which is paradoxical. As a general rule, the effects on muscle growth and recovery will be far less than with whey.
When should I avoid eating whey protein?
There are no studies proving that whey protein, and therefore whey, is harmful to your health, as long as you follow the recommended doses. As long as this product does not form the basis of your diet, its consumption should not harm your body.
However, there are rare cases where these supplements should not be consumed, at least not without the advice of a specialist. A high-protein diet should be avoided if you suffer from liver or kidney disease. A high-protein diet can overload the kidneys and liver.
Having said that, we'd like to qualify such statements by pointing out that for an individual with no underlying disease, whey is not dangerous for the kidneys or liver. In certain cases, however, whey may aggravate diseases affecting these organs.
Good to know: protein powder and diabetes go hand in hand. Recent studies show that consuming whey in the right way can help regulate blood sugar levels.
By taking the time to find out about whey's glycemic load, diabetics can supplement their diet to promote muscle growth.
As mentioned above, whey should also be avoided if you have a recognized allergy to dairy proteins. This type of allergy is rare in adults.
So you'll have to fall back on dietary proteins alone, avoiding excessive meat consumption. It is also possible to choose a plant-based protein, provided it is free from additives and solvent extraction, which is unfortunately often the case with plant proteins.
Apart from these rather special situations, dairy proteins are perfectly healthy. However, whey and protein powders do not contain only milk-derived amino acids.
Most finished products on the market also contain additives. More and more recent studies are warning against these ingredients. They are not harmless. They can cause a variety of disorders over the long term.
For example, sweeteners disrupt brain chemistry and the perception of sweetness. Paradoxically and out of sync with their consumption, they encourage people to eat sweeter foods and disrupt insulin metabolism.
On the other hand, lecithins and thickeners have certain side effects, such as digestive problems often attributed directly to the proteins themselves.
Worse still! The addition of additives increases the risk of steroid contamination. In addition to being dangerous, these anabolic hormones can destroy the careers of top-level athletes. By consuming whey or any other contaminated product without their knowledge, they fail anti-doping tests.
In all cases, we encourage you to choose a quality whey protein, i.e. without additives or sweeteners, produced in France and derived from quality milk.
Theabsence of additives prevents any undesirable effects. French production, 100% controlled by the brand owner, guarantees the traceability of all ingredients.
Finally, since the quality of proteins and their beneficial effects are directly linked to the milk they come from, find out where the milk comes from!
When it comes to whey protein, origin and quality are determining factors for athletes, impacting on their health, sensations during training and performance. Our protein powders are distinguished by their absence of sweeteners and additives, and are produced entirely in France. Designed by a dedicated team of pharmacists, they are specially formulated to boost athletic performance.
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