Whey Protein and Hair Loss – Some Astonishing Facts

What is Whey?

Types of Whey Protein

Whey Protein and Hair Loss

Every time you look for a protein, your number one pick is Whey protein. It is mainly taken by gym enthusiasts and also can be taken for weight reduction. It can be taken with milk, juice, or any other beverage as it comes in powder form. However, those who use whey protein drinks have a question – “Does whey protein cause hair fall?” Well, let us find out!

What is Whey?

Whey is the watery part of the milk that remains after the curd formation. It’s the foggy, light-yellow liquid released by cheese curds during the cheese-making process, and the fluid strained from fresh yoghurt to thicken it. It can be acidic or sweet, depending on the cheese-making process. Hence, we can assume that it is a synthesised protein supplement.

Types of Whey Protein

Whey protein is categorised into three types. Let’s have a quick look:

Whey Protein Isolate

It is a highly processed whey protein that has been stripped of its lipids and lactose. It is composed of approximately 90% protein. We can also say that it is the upgraded version of whey protein concentrate.

Whey Protein Hydrolysate

As it undergoes partial hydrolysis, it is used as a pre-digested whey protein (the process that allows the protein to be absorbed). It digests faster than other types of whey protein. It contains around 80 – 90% of protein.

Whey Protein Concentrate

This form of whey has a low fat and carbohydrate content. Its concentration defines the protein content of whey. The lowest percentage is 30%, whereas the highest percentage is up to 90%. Also, it is less expensive than whey protein. 

Whey Protein and Hair Loss

Hair loss due to whey protein might sound a little weird. But to some extent it is true as few people face this side effect. However, there are no studies to prove this fact. 

If you have hereditary baldness, there are a few things you can do to prevent compounding the situation by intaking whey isolate:

• Try Protein concentrate, as it is a multi-ingredient blend and does not cause problems like hair fall. When compared to whey isolate, a multi-ingredient blend will result in more significant gain in lean body mass.
• You can try other proteins, apart from whey. Several proteins are available in the market ranging from casein and pea protein to rice and soy protein. Each form has a distinct nutritional profile.
• Considering hair loss treatment can be a good option. Many factors are related to hair fall – stress, nutritional deficiencies, etc. 

Proteins greatly impact health and building muscle – no matter what type of protein you are taking. But, if you are facing hair loss issues after consuming whey proteins, you should visit your dermatologist and seek professional help from them.