Whey protein is derived from cow's milk during the cheese-making process. It contains milk proteins and varying amounts of lactose that may cause some people to have an allergic reaction. If you suffer from minor milk allergies, you still may be able to use whey protein. Check with your doctor to see if whey protein is an option for you.
Types of Whey
The two primary types of whey protein on the market include whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate formulas. If you are lactose intolerant, a WPI formula may be the ideal choice for you. It is processed to remove most of the lactose and fat from the whey protein. According to the U.S. Dairy Council, WPI formulas typically contain about 2 percent lactose, and WPC formulas consist of about 6 percent lactose by weight.
Milk Allergies
Milk allergies can stem from allergies to milk protein or allergies to the sugar in milk, lactose. If you are allergic to the milk proteins, whey protein is not a good option for you. A soy-based protein may be a better choice. Allergic reactions to consuming whey protein may include minor symptoms of stomach discomfort or nausea to more serious reactions like anaphylaxis, a potentially deadly condition. MayoClinic.com suggests avoiding all protein powders if you suffer from milk allergies.
Benefits
There are several benefits of whey protein that make it a viable option for athletes and moderately-active individuals. It contains a high level of branched-chain amino acids, or BCAAs, which help support muscle growth, maintenance and recovery. It also helps stimulate production of antioxidants to help fight free radicals boost immune system function. These are benefits worth exploring with your doctor. Your doctor may recommend starting with a low dose of whey protein, such as 5 g per day, to see if your body tolerates it well.
Alternatives
There are healthy alternatives to whey protein that you can use to get the protein you need without the side effects associated with your allergy. Whey is a complete protein source, meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids your body needs. Other complete protein sources you can try include lean meats, eggs and soy protein. Casein protein also comes from milk, so if you don't tolerate whey, you probably won't tolerate casein either. Check the label on each protein supplement to be sure they're free of milk products. For example, some protein powder blends contain mixtures of several proteins, many times containing whey or casein.
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