Can I Just Drink Protein All Day?

Protein-rich meal replacement drinks can be tasty, convenient and healthful. As with any food, however, they're best in moderation. While you can definitely replace all of your normal meals with protein shakes, you'd be better served by following a diet plan that's balanced and incorporates a variety of whole foods.

Drink Options

You have a number of choices when it comes to high-protein drinks. Some commercially prepared varieties are already bottled and packaged, while others are sold in powdered mixes or protein isolate forms. To those, you can add water or milk. You also have the option of making your own protein-rich shakes. Use a base of dairy or plant-based milk, yogurt or protein powder and add fruit and other ingredients to suit your preferences.

Benefits

Boosting your protein intake can serve several purposes. First, ChooseMyPlate.gov notes that protein is essential for developing, repairing and growing skin, bone, blood and muscle tissue. Extra protein also encourages healthy weight maintenance or weight loss and enhanced satiety, according to UK obesity researchers who authored a January 2008 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" study measuring the effects of a high-protein diet.

Nutrition

If your protein drinks aren't fortified, you run the risk of developing nutrient deficiencies unless you take daily multivitamins. Even if you do, neither prepared drinks nor vitamins can provide the fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants that you'd get in whole foods at traditional meals. You also might end up taking in a lot more sugar than you usually would if you drink a lot of protein. "The principal ingredient of liquid meal replacement shakes is sugar," state University of Washington authors of a March 2007 "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" article. According to MayoClinic.com, increasing the amount of refined sugar you eat could raise your risk of tooth decay, weight gain and heart disease.

Risks

There are also more significant health risks involved in replacing much of your normal diet with protein drinks. Katherine Zeratsky, registered dietitian with MayoClinic.com, notes that following high-protein eating plans for three months or more is likely to raise your risk of cancer, heart disease, liver and kidney problems or diverticulitis. Unless you're cutting calories with your drinks, you may also gain unwanted weight.

Considerations

Protein drinks can be beneficial health aids if you use them as occasional supplements to a balanced, wholesome diet. Before replacing what you normally eat with shakes, however, speak with your doctor to get approval.