High-Protein shakes, bars, powders, and other supplements are believed to have abilities to encourage muscle building, fat loss, and weight loss. Men have a mania for the pills and other supplements to strengthen bicep muscles of their body. Their use can bring about constructive physical changes if coupled with a healthy balanced diet and a regular exercise habit. However, to be aware of the risks of these supplements is also very important.
Following are some of the health risks associated with the bodybuilding supplements:
Weight Gain
A ‘supplement’ is a source of calories in addition to your normal diet. No matter, how nutritious you think your supplements is, it has an ability to contribute to weight gain if goes unchecked. To overcome this problem, you need to take reduced-calorie diet or replace a supplement to the one-time meal. A high-protein supplement can even make you gain excessive fat.
Heart and kidney problems
Supplement itself is not definitely associated with any of heart and kidney diseases, but extensive use of high-protein diet is. You need to pay heed to your cholesterol level if you are taking the high-protein diet. Many high-protein products have high cholesterol values and saturated fat, which increases the risk of heart diseases. A kidney functions to eliminate extra waste products from your body, so high-protein intakes put extra pressure on it. Hence, damage your kidneys.
Digestive Problems
Some of the protein supplements are prepared with suggested dietary fibers, others are not. Shortage of these suggested daily dietary fibers can lead to a number of digestive problems in the long-term. A high-protein diet can cause you constipation, diverticulitis, and other related issues. To have the good digestive system, you need to take those supplements, which have suggested dietary fibers.
Imbalanced Nutrition
While most supplements are fortified, their components or nutrients do not come from natural sources. They create a diet that is imbalanced. The disproportional increase in your protein intake at the expense of other minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that you eat may lead to nutrient insufficiencies over time. Therefore, high-protein whole foods are better and healthier choices.
Testicular Cancer
A recent study by Yale University researchers shows the link between consumption of body-building supplements and testicular cancer. Testicular cancer rate has been increasing between 1974 and 2011, from 3.7 to 5.9 cases for every 100,000 men in U.S. It is probably the time in which bodybuilding has become very popular among the mainstream. Bodybuilding supplements that include creatine or androstenedione are found to increase the chances of testicular cancer. Both of them are used by professional athletes to enhance their performance and boost physical strength.
Scientifically creatine is believed to be beneficial, but it does not ring true with androstenedione. Androstenedione is believed to increase testosterone production and may cause a variety of health risks from depression and acne to kidney damage and mood swings.
Insomnia, Nervousness, and Addiction
Fat burners and pre-workout body supplements are allies in the journey to build muscles. However, they are believed to carry a huge amount of caffeine and other stimulants. Their side effects include convulsions, insomnia, irritability, hypertension, nervousness, and hallucinations.
The limited and cautious use of bodybuilding supplements is recommended. Excess of nothing is good.