Protein shakes are a great dietary supplement for bodybuilders and athletes. They give people the ability to quickly increase their protein intake. However, protein shakes can make you poop, especially if you drink them in large quantities with little water. Here are the main 5 reasons that protein shakes make you poop.
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1. Lactose Intolerant
Protein shakes can easily cause diarrhea if you’re lactose intolerant. A protein shake is a drink that is made up of protein powder and milk or water. The protein in most types of protein shakes on the market is whey protein, which is derived from cow’s milk. So if you’re lactose intolerant, you’ll have the same reaction to drinking a shake as you would like drinking a glass of milk.
You can choose soy protein based shakes to avoid lactose intolerant. Soy protein is a plant-based protein, without lactose.
2. Excessive Protein Intake
Your body digests protein by breaking it down into individual amino acids. These amino acids are then absorbed into the bloodstream and used to build muscle, repair tissue and perform other essential functions.
If you consume too many protein shakes, your body might not be able to handle the extra nutrients. This can lead to diarrhea as your body tries to get rid of the excess material.
3. Low in Fiber
Protein shakes will make you poop, sometimes it is not because of the protein. Fibrous food takes longer to absorb and digest than non-fibrous foods such as protein shakes. This means that when you drink a protein shake, the chances are higher that you will poop soon afterward because there is hardly any fiber in the shake.
Another reason why people might think that protein shakes make them poop is that protein is such a strong substance and has such a big effect on your body’s processes. This means that the protein shakes will react stronger than fibrous food and maybe more uncomfortable to digest which can cause you to feel like pooping even though you might not have done so yet.
4. Artificial Sweeteners
Most protein shakes contain artificial sweeteners, like aspartame, sucralose, and stevia, which may make you poop. If you’re not sure whether or not your shake contains artificial sweeteners, be sure to check the ingredients list before you buy it.
5. Depending On The Brand
Poop or not may also depend on the brand of protein shade you’re using. If you always poop after eating a certain protein shake, it may be the wrong kind of protein for your body. You can try to use another brand.
Final Thought
So if you’re experiencing poop after drinking protein shakes, there are a few things you can do that may avoid the situation:
- Try other protein source shakes, such as soy protein shake.
- Reduce the amount of protein shake.
- Increase the fiber content in your diet.
- See the ingredients list of a protein shake, check if there are artificial sweeteners.
- Switch brands or types of protein shakes to see if the new one might work better for your body.
