SUPPLEMENTS: Go easy on the protein shakes
May 10, 2019 • 1 min read
Building a decent set of guns requires protein, but we might be overdoing the protein shakes – a global market worth $9.4 billion.
Research conducted by scientists in Australia suggests that consuming high levels of BCAAs may have adverse effects on mood, lead to food cravings and weight gain, and even shorten an individual’s lifespan.
Whey proteins contain high levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) – three essential amino acids called leucine, valine, and isoleucine, which are meant to help increase muscle mass.
Loading up on BCAA makes your hungry
Researchers tested the effects of a BCAA-heavy diet in mice and discovered that a high concentration of amino acids affected the function of tryptophan – the precursor for the hormone serotonin (the so-called happiness chemical and promoter of sleep).
When BCAA levels disrupted the production of tryptophan, serotonin levels dropped – a potent signal to increase appetite. This led mice to overeat, obesity, and an early grave.
Better news for protein shake fans
But it’s not all bad news for protein fans, because elevated BCAA isn’t the problem per se – it’s the excessive eating brought on by lower serotonin.
Keep chugging protein shakes if you must, but make sure there’s less food on the end of your fork at meal times.