Are Protein Drinks Safe?

Protein drinks are safe, but can be used unsafely or in a way that doesn’t promote weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. Following basic health guidelines when using protein drinks as a weight-loss tool will help ensure your safety.

Types

• Protein drinks (usually called shakes) can have a soy, milk or egg base. These can come as a powder (which must be mixed with water or skim milk) or in a ready-to-drink liquid form.

Warning

• You can gain weight when using protein shakes if you drink too many of them, according to the Mayo Clinic. A good guideline is to have about 46 to 56 total grams of protein a day.

Considerations

• Protein shakes cannot provide your body all the nutrients it needs, so it’s a good idea not to rely upon these as your sole source of nutrition. The Mayo Clinic advises you to eat vegetables, fruits and also take vitamins.

Effects

• Exercising when using protein shakes--whether alone or with other food items as recommended by Mayo Clinic professionals--is still key to weight loss and general good health.

Misconceptions

• Drinking plenty of water is still essential even when you’re adding some to protein shakes. The Mayo Clinic recommends drinking at least eight glasses of water each day.