Does Whey Protein Powder Affect Hormones? - An Expert's Insight

Are you wondering if whey protein powder has any effect on hormones? Learn more about this popular supplement from an expert's perspective.

Does Whey Protein Powder Affect Hormones? - An Expert's Insight

Are you wondering if whey protein powder has any effect on hormones? If so, you're not alone. Many people are curious about the potential impact of this popular supplement on their body's delicate balance. As an expert in the field, I'm here to provide some insight into this important topic. To start, it's important to understand that whey protein is derived from dairy. This means that it contains steroid hormones, which are fat-soluble and found in the lipid portion of unprocessed whey.

While it does provide a good amount of vitamin E, fiber, iron and essential fatty acids, it is one of the lowest in protein content when compared to other protein powders of plant or animal origin. Hemp, for example, is full of other beneficial factors such as fiber and omega fat, but only contains 30 to 50% protein by weight. Additionally, the amount of protein it contains is less bioavailable than animal proteins, peas or even rice. If you can tolerate dairy products, be sure to buy whey from grass-fed animals which is less processed and richer in nutrients. Soy should be avoided as it can cause a hormonal imbalance.

Egg white protein is used as a standard for evaluating the bioavailability of other protein sources and contains all of the body's essential amino acids. For those looking for a plant-based option, pea protein powder doesn't alter hormones too much, but you may need to combine it with a more complete protein to take advantage of the benefits of amino acids. While there is some evidence of the benefits of whey over soy as an effective source of adaptogenic proteins for muscle tissue, no human studies have compared the two proteins directly in response to resistance training. And while I love protein powder as an occasional addition to shakes or other recipes, I always recommend that real, whole foods are the main source of protein. Find out which protein supplements for vegetarians and vegans are the best, including those made with whey, casein, soy, rice, peas and hemp. This is the first study to report low isoflavone content in commercial whey proteins, and future studies should take this into account when designing a control study without isoflavones. In conclusion, supplementation with soy and whey in men who perform resistance exercises in a free lifestyle produces an accumulation of lean body mass without adversely affecting serum androgen levels.

It would be interesting to see how vegan-based protein powders fared out. If you have problems with protein powder, the problem isn't always the source of protein. This is the least bioavailable and has the least amount of protein compared to other plant-based options.

Ashley Wools
Ashley Wools

Infuriatingly humble food advocate. Friendly bacon specialist. Friendly beer scholar. Total tvaholic. Award-winning tv junkie. Extreme twitter trailblazer.