SIDE EFFECTS OF EACH WORKOUT SUPPLEMENT

Side effects of Whey Protein
As one of the safest forms of workout supplements, Whey protein does not really have adverse effects on the body. There are however a few minor side effects that come with its consumption which according to an article on eMedTV.com include:

- Headaches
- Increased stool frequency
- Bloating
- Loss of appetite

Those are all problems that can arise if one is irresponsible when it comes to consuming Whey protein, because the truth of the matter is that you have to constantly hydrate, watch what you eat, exercise regularly, and have ample amounts of sleep in order for the supplement to work as efficiently as possible. Otherwise, the heavy concentration of protein will cause bloating and stomach ache which is normally occurring in the body.
Now if someone is lactose intolerant, consequences are a little more severe if they consume Whey protein. This is because Whey is a dairy extract which means that if a person allergic to milk uses it, they can get:

- Diarrhea
- Itching or swelling
- Rash or Hives
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing

The side effects listed above were sourced from a Healthline.com article called "Does Too Much Whey Protein Cause Adverse Effects?" written by Ryan Raman that may discourage some individuals from trying out Whey protein. Not to worry however, because there are a myriad of plant-based protein supplement that work just as well as Whey protein if not better. So, lactose intolerant people, you're not forgotten!

Plant-Based Protein (21g of protein per scoop!)

Plant-Based Protein (30g of protein per scoop!)

Side effects of Creatine

Creatine should be used with a little more caution than Whey protein because there have been studies linking it with kidney disease, and kidney failure. When you take creatine, you increase the amount of it in your urine and blood, which is suggested to cause kidney dysfunction, specially if you have a history of kidney disease in your family. An article on MedicinePlus.gov lists numerous side effects and potential hazardous consequences of using creatine, but most of those depend on the dosage you use, and what you take with the supplement. For example, it states that if you take creatine with other types of drugs it increases your chances of kidney damage.

Creatine also causes weight gain because it absorbs water from the rest of your body, meaning that hydrating is really important due to the fact that it can cause severe stomach cramps and can get you dehydrated very quickly. Many people who stop using creatine notice that their muscles are shrinking at an alarming rate, but that is just the extra water leaving the muscles since creatine is no longer present to retain it. I have personally experimented the effects of creatine on my body and have noticed that when I drink a lot of water my stomach does not hurt, but when I do not hydrate adequately my stomach gets bloated and starts to hurt severely. So always drink water to save yourself the trouble, as well as help dilute the concentration of it in your blood and urine to give your kidneys a much needed break.

I am always cautious when I take creatine because a family member of mine passed away due to kidney failure which is something I do not want to mess with. Remember, not every supplement is meant for everyone. So do not let the $2.7 billion in annual sales of creatine persuade you that it is something you absolutely need, because some studies even show that less than 50% of people who take creatine actually respond to it.

The creatine supplement I used in the past (5g of creatine per tablet)

References

Creatine: MedlinePlus Supplements. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/873.html.

Monson, K. (n.d.). Whey Protein Side Effects. Retrieved November 10, 2019, from http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/whey-protein/whey-protein-side-effects-p2.html.

Raman, R. Does Too Much Whey Protein Cause Side Effects?. Retrieved November 10, 2019, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/whey-protein-side-effects#section2