No one likes the feeling of nausea. It can make you feel sick to your stomach, queasy and cause you to vomit. If you become nauseous after ingesting whey protein, you may have an underlying digestive condition that’s triggering the digestive symptom. Stop using whey protein supplements or powder until you can be assessed by your health-care provider. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to whey proteins can cause life-threatening symptoms.
Nausea
Nausea is the unpleasant sensation of wanting to vomit, forcing what’s in your stomach to come up through your mouth. Nausea and vomiting are the body’s way of expelling potential irritants and threatening substances that enter the body. If the stomach communicated with the brain that there is a harmful substance in the digestive system, the brain will cause your stomach to empty itself through vomiting. Perpetual vomiting or vomiting that contains blood is a sign of a serious condition that needs to be evaluated by your doctor.
Whey Protein Allergy
Whey protein is made from cow’s milk, which will trigger an allergic reaction in people with a milk allergy. Although whey proteins are harmless, if your immune system makes the mistake of identifying the protein as a threat to the body, the immune system will attack the protein with antibodies. The release of antibodies, histamine and other chemicals in the digestive system can cause inflammation in the lining of the intestines and stomach, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping and abdominal pain. If you’re allergic to whey proteins, you will develop other symptoms, such as skin rashes, facial swelling, nasal congestion, skin flushing and shortness of breath.
Lactose Intolerance
Whey protein may contain a sugar primarily found in milk called lactose. Many people are unable to fully digest lactose because of a deficiency of the lactase enzyme. Lactose intolerance causes digestive symptoms within 30 minutes and up to two hours after ingesting whey proteins. MayoClinic.com states that common symptoms of lactose intolerance include bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea and stomach pain. Symptoms from lactose intolerance do not pose any threat to your health, but may be embarrassing. Nausea may be prevented by taking a lactase enzyme supplement before you ingest whey proteins.
Considerations
Other conditions that may lead to nausea after consuming whey protein include irritable bowel syndrome and food poisoning. IBS is a chronic digestive condition that can cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. Food poisoning also occurs when you ingest whey protein that’s contaminated with infectious organisms.
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