Protein Supplements: Why I Think Vegan Protein Supplements Are the Best (Part 2 of 2)

(This is part 2 of the article “Protein Supplements: Why I Think Vegan Protein Supplements Are the Best”. If you haven’t read the first part, please click here.)

Aminoacidemia and How Whey Contributes to It

Aminoacidemia is a condition in which extreme quantities of amino acids are present in the blood. In this case, if there is nothing in the diet to account for it, it is possible that there are missing or defective enzymes in the liver, which are important for the breakdown of nitrogen containing amino acids in the body. If your system fails to properly break down amino acids, it can result to generalized hyper-aminoacidemia, and eventually to neurotoxicity and early death.

Furthermore, new studies reveal that aminoacidemia may be a contributing element in the onset of diabetes. Specifically, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has confirmed that whey’s high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score actually guarantees a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the anabolic requirement during the postprandial period (the period right after a meal). This is bad news for bodybuilders, who believed for years that excess amino acids dumped quickly into the bloodstream is a helpful condition for building muscle!

For years bodybuilders have claimed aminoacidemia as a helpful condition for building muscle, making it an effective selling feature of whey protein in the bodybuilding community. The explanation is that muscle growth is about staying in a positive nitrogen state. Due to exercise, which damages and stresses the muscle, the body is thrown into a negative nitrogen catabolic (breakdown) state. This leads to the idea to take yourself out of a catabolic state and into a positive nitrogen anabolic (building) state by consuming the fastest absorbing protein you can get your hands on — whey. And there is no question that whey protein induces a short term dramatic increase in blood levels of amino acids — i.e. aminoacidemia. Sadly, new research on the matter now show that this rational, taken as a whole, may not necessarily be true.

Looking into it, studies have confirmed the “paradox” of the highly soluble proteins found in whey and whey isolate, which, despite their high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score, ensure a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the body’s anabolic requirement during the minutes and hours after eating it — thus, not really helping in the development of muscle. To make the long story short, the latest studies find that aminoacidemia may not provide the benefit many bodybuilders think it does.

To make things worse, aminoacidemia may actually lead to acquiring long term health consequences – for example, diabetes. Despite the fact that short term aminoacidemia can actually lower blood sugar levels since it stimulates higher beta-cell secretion and a related increase in insulin levels (by as much as 40%), over time, this constant stimulation may overstress and degrade the ability of beta-cells to produce sufficient insulin when called for and may eventually, contribute to pre-diabetic and diabetic conditions in the body.

In addition, ammonia, the end result of excess amino acids being converted along with carbon dioxide and water, is toxic to the body and is a primary cause of premature fatigue. Normally, the body handles excess ammonia by converting it to urea then filtering it through the kidneys, but if the ammonia is too much, it overstrains the kidneys, which is why doctors would advise against high levels of protein intake in cases of kidney disease. And ultimately, although there are studies on the question of high amino acid levels in the blood (i.e., high protein consumption) and bone loss, the most convincing studies indicate that there is a problem.

For bodybuilders, the paradox of aminoacidemia says that the main feature of whey, its high Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score, probably generates a rate of amino acid delivery that is too rapid to sustain the anabolic requirement during the immediate hours after eating it – thus, not really helping in the development of muscle.

Whey and Intestinal Toxemia

Despite it being a somewhat, catch-all phrase that the alternative health community came up with to describe a set of conditions that occur in the intestinal tract as a result of bad dietary options, Intestinal toxemia is not a medical condition. It has three primary manifestations:

Putrefaction, which is caused by bacterial action on undigested proteins. Guanidine, histamine, mercaptans, indol, phenyl, skato, and other organic toxins may be formed as a result.
Rancidity refers specifically to the spoilage of fats. This can actually occur in the digestive tract itself — not just from the consumption of rancid fats in the diet. The primary concern is that rancid fats promote the production of peroxide free radicals in the body.
Fermentation is caused by the action of bacteria and yeasts on carbohydrates. Excessive gas, increased blood alcohol levels (that’s why excess sugar can give you a hangover), and Candida hyper-growth are just three problems associated with intestinal fermentation.

Intestinal toxemia takes place when large particles of undigested food enter the small intestine and colon. This undigested food accumulated in the small intestine and colon then become a fertile breeding ground for bacteria and yeast fermentation since these parts of the digestive tract were not designed to handle excessive amounts of undigested food. These bacteria then produce harmful by-products that damage the intestines, reduce nutrient assimilation, create excess gas and bloating, and lead to persistent diarrhea. This is because proteins putrefy, carbohydrates ferment, and fats become rancid. Other than that, mild to intense stomach pains, the result of muscle cramping and excessive gas are experienced. Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Crohn’s Disease may be the eventual results should intestinal toxemia extend.

Whey protein can be a major factor in promoting intestinal toxemia. Whey contains no fiber, which is important to keep things moving well through the intestinal tract. Since it is highly processed, whey protein contains no live enzymes to break down the large whey proteins. The body actually has a difficult time breaking down the three primary proteins in whey. When combined, these problems provide an ideal environment for disadvantageous intestinal bacteria to thrive in. And since whey is very acid forming, it increases the pH level of the normally alkaline environment of the intestinal tract, thus favoring the development of harmful bacteria over beneficial bacteria.

Conclusion

I have long stopped taking ordinary and dairy-based supplements and found that my body responds best to vegan protein supplements, but my decision wasn’t just based on some random ideas. I encourage you to investigate what really is in your protein supplements and observe how they really affect you. If you happen to have the symptoms I mentioned in this article series, try stopping your intake and then see if your symptoms stop.

For a list of the Best Vegan Protein Supplements in my opinion, click here.