I don't know what to believe anymore. I bought some protein suppliment (whey) today at my local GNC. To start, I'm 17, and I'm starting to get serious with working out, I enjoy it and if feels great, but I want some help, NO STEROIDS, I want to just be healthy you know?
Well my friends all take protein suppliments but I don't know I've heard a hamburgerand glass of milk does the same but then I hear you only have a 30 min window to get your protein post workout? So I don't know what to believe now. The GNC guy was obviously biased, and so are my friends. But I'm concerned with getting kidney stones or any negative affects on my body (liver I hear). So soemone want to give me the scoop about how it all works, if I can or should use it, and what I should do? Thanks I appreciate if you read all of this.:)

zeig, side effects are minimal, as I thought, just had to check this website to make sure. Here is some good information on protein supplements from searchwarp.com:

If you want to maximize the time you spend in the gym - lifting, the right protein supplement is of paramount importance. No subject is of greater interest to bodybuilders, then protein. Muscle is mostly protein, therefore taking a protein that is efficiently used by your body, as well as getting the right amount of protein, means the difference between modest results and matrix-great results.

The Matrix of Protein
One of the top considerations in choosing a protein supplement is it's profile, it's pattern, it's matrix.The amino acid composition of various proteins make the difference in how well these proteins are digested and made available to build muscle. Experts are agreed that milk and egg based proteins have the most desirable amino acid profile, for proper assimilation and utilization by your body.

The right protein powder also greatly enhances you ability to go into an anabolic condition. In an anabolic condition GH, growth hormone is released into the blood stream, for great muscle gains. GH is required to grow muscle mass, and for general good health it preforms a variety of necessary functions, including boosting your energy level and helping to keep you young looking.

Whey Protein Powder
Besides having a great amino acid profile, whey based protein, has been shown to greatly aid in losing fat. Whey protein is composed of all the essential amino acids, and with the right balance to non-amino aids for enhanced absorption. For great muscle growth nitrogen retention is also benefited.

Look for products that use natural sweeteners, avoid ones that use chemical sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. These chemicals have been clearly shown to affect the bodies metabolism in a negative way, not something any serious builder wants.

Egg Protein Powder
Egg protein has been recognized since forever by bodybuilders and nutritionists as a highly superior source of protein, with a fantastic amino acid profile. The bad rap eggs have received because of concerns over fat and high cholesterol, are highly bogus. There have been lots of studies, that indicate eggs are extremely healthful, especially if they obtained from natural chicken ranches where the chickens free range, on the ground.

To meet the demand by informed lifters, supplement manufactures have developed egg based protein powers, that are highly efficient and great tasting as well.

I suggest that lifters consider a blend of both protein types, both egg and whey for optimum results.

How much Protein is needed
This is somewhat of a personal issue, since not everyone assimilates protein at the same rate. We all have different body types and some have digestive systems that may be over stressed or the reverse highly efficient. It's best to experiment a bit at first keep track of how many grams of protein you take per day, and adjust accordingly.

However, the generally recommended and understand amount of grams of protein required for bodybuilding purposes is a about 1 gram of protein for each pound of body weight. For example, if you weigh 170 lbs, you should be taking from all protein sources about 170 grams. If you feel this is not enough, add more gradually to see if it improves your results.

A recent study indicated that body builders can greatly minimize and the effects of over-training by taking approximately 1 gram of protein for each pound of body weight.

In any case, the protein supplements you take will greatly effect your results, so take some time and get a good one.

Side Effects to Protein Supplementation
Side effects are rare in taking protein supplements, since protein is one the 3 basic elements to food, besides fats and carbohydrates. However, some issues can develop when lots of protein is taken, some of which is not properly digested. Usually this relates to excessive gas in the intestinal track. If this occurs just reduce the amount of grams of protein you are taking, until this condition desists

You can eat a protein bar 30 min. after work out... rhis is true

Thanks, but I'm worried about whether itd be too much for me. Or if a hamburger is just as good, I can't eat most protein bars I'm allergic to nuts. And from what I've read as far as negativity, its hard on your liver and kidneys. Anyone else out there known about the stuff for a while?

Let me put it this way, zeig, you are l7 and still growing, by working out and eating a proper diet high in protein, yes hamburgers but not junk food; you can get a lot of protein by eating beans such as kidney beans, and chickpeas provide same protein as meat. There are lots of things you can eat to build muscle mass beside protein drinks. You could supplement once in a while with a whey protein you mix with low fat milk, with an egg in it for good measure mixed in your blender.

The only time protein drinks are damaging to liver and kidneys are when they are abused by middleage men who don't eat a proper diet and want to have the obligatory six pack.

Of course prexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, liver disease are probably not any where near where you are right now. So don't worry about liver and kidney malfunction unless, like I said, if you yourself are in that boat.

Enjoy your physical activity, building muscle mass in a healthy way and eating a well balanced diet. Start researching a diet that fits your lifestyle.

Kindest regards

Ms tickle, a healthcare professional

Thanks for the advice I really appreciate it!

The thing you have to remember about a hamburger vs a protein shake is what is in it beside the protein. A hamburger also has cholesterol, fat, etc. where as a protein powder or shake usually has added minerals and vitamins with the protein.

You I just have heard protein shakes are bad for or at least hard on your kidneys and liver. The gluca-somthing makes your liver work overtime and your kidneys have to filter more protein or something. Any truth to this?

I also read that you need to get pleny of fiber if you take it, well I'm not sure what some good sources of fiber really are that I like or eat frequently so I'm kind of worried. Any easy suggestions? I think I have some like dissolvable fiber mix stuff that you put in drinks but I'm convinced its just sugar.

zeig, go to Google and put in 'fibre' you will see a lot of information for what you should be eating. Everyone needs plenty of fibre. Benefits are higher when you eat actual fibre like kidney beans, chickpeas, etc. Who knows, you might like it. There is a lot of fibre in Chillie.

I think I already mentioned that yes, protein shakes are not good for someone who takes them indiscriminately, zeig, and you don't need to do that because you are only l7 and not wholely developed in bones and muscle yet.

Would they help though if I took one only on work out days? Or could I take it? Or is it just not recommended..
Ohh wow I love chillie haha ill look that up thanks!

Drink whole milk and eat eggs, don't go crazy with it though. Enjoy yourself and don't ever let anyone talk you into taking steroids. I did 500 push-ups daily, 50 ten times a day. Along with sit-ups and some loose weights I got as big as I wanted to get, but I've still got stretch marks on my chest from it. Just be sensible.

Hamburger... umm, grease?

Too much red meat is bad for your system.

I took whey protein drinks. I didn't like it. Use to mix milk with it, to distill the powder taste it has with water. To many excuses to why it didn't work right. I did 150lbs in 2 reps of 10 on my weight bench for a month. Daily. Morning and afternoon. I didn't notice any change.

They said cause I wasn't using more weights, cause lean muscles use the same weights in large reps for toning, and bulk muscles use increasingly heavy weights in small reps, for growth.

I got better results just working on my feet and lifting.