Headaces from protein powder??

Sdolan93
Sdolan93 Posts: 10 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I had been putting protein powder in my smoothies but ended up having horrible headaches..... i stopped my smoothies for like a week and didnt have the headaches.... today i had one and enjoyed it a lot just a few hours after i have a splitting headache again.... has anyone else got them?? Is it maybe just the brand?? Im using the whey protein powder from gatorade if that helps

Replies

  • trigden1991
    trigden1991 Posts: 4,658 Member
    I have no idea how protein would make you have headaches so can only assume it is an individual reaction to that specific product.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    This would be the first I ever heard such a thing, but it's possible one of the sweeteners being used may cause a headache. Maybe try another protein powder to see if the same thing is happening.
  • Sdolan93
    Sdolan93 Posts: 10 Member
    Idk I'm gonna give it another try today and see how it is..... i dont usually use the whole dose so i didn't think it would be that but when i got my headache last night it's what popped into my head..... i like how i feel when i take it its just like 4-6 hours after i got the headache..... i just checked the ingredients and it says sugar so I'm not sure if it has an artificial sweetener
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    edited November 2016
    Just found the ingredients list, and it looks like sucralose is the only artificial sweetener in it. However, sucralose has been shown to be a migraine trigger in people who are prone.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    Also, does it have soy in it? I can't do soy, it gives me a migraine.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    Elise4270 wrote: »
    Also, does it have soy in it? I can't do soy, it gives me a migraine.

    There is no soy in it, other than lecithin as an emulsifier, which is in pretty much every powder.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    edited November 2016
    Soy lecithin? That'll do it. That is the worst offender for me. If it gives you (OP) a headache, I'd just avoid it. You're probably sensitive to it. It causes sinus membranes to swell and increases pressure in some individuals. I'll have a headache for days..

    I think muscle milk has no soy, 100% whey protein powder may not, and the Sam's (US) brand has no soy.

    Strange I can do fresh edamame but not not soy products.

    Good luck.

    Sorry @Gallowmere1984 , I glanced and thought OP had replied. Doing 2 things at one here. Hope your doing well!

    Oh what about caffeine? Is there caffeine in it?
  • Madelinec117
    Madelinec117 Posts: 210 Member
    I feel your pain. I have the same problem with some types of protein powder (usually soy) so I stick to whey protein powders and do just fine. I buy mine at wal mart.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    My first thought was sweetener, too. OP, do you ever have splenda in anything else?
    Never heard of lecithin causing headaches. I always assumed it was a tiny amount, too. Live & learn.
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    Try Tera's Whey instead- it has sunflower lecithin instead of soy and sweetened with stevia instead of sugar or sucralose. Only other ingredient is the whey, or if you get chocolate that has cacao. Don't get the vanilla flavor though, it's gross. The chocolate is really good and plain/unflavored is great for adding to smoothies. It's also organic & grass fed.
  • Elise4270
    Elise4270 Posts: 8,375 Member
    courtneyfabulous wrote: »
    Try Tera's Whey instead- it has sunflower lecithin instead of soy and sweetened with stevia instead of sugar or sucralose. Only other ingredient is the whey, or if you get chocolate that has cacao. Don't get the vanilla flavor though, it's gross. The chocolate is really good and plain/unflavored is great for adding to smoothies. It's also organic & grass fed.

    Good advice! But be careful OP you may have an issue with sunflowers too. I do. Even dang sesame seeds, peanuts, well most nuts, not almonds so much.
  • baylie1114
    baylie1114 Posts: 33 Member
    Do you have any sensitivity to milk products? You may be allergic to whey, causing inflammation in your sinuses.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/336903-protein-powder-headaches/
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    I'm wondering how you are with milk in general? Whey powder will probably be high in casein the milk protein, assumption it will be bovine milk which is normally type 1 casein. I doubt it will have a significant trace of lactose in it. There are other types of casein 2,3,and 4. Sheep and goat don't have t1 in them and are more easily digestible.

    I tried one whey protein, I didn't get headaches but I felt increasingly less well and improved when I gave up. Subsequent tests proved casein intolerance.

    You could try rice or pea protein. All the best.
  • Sdolan93
    Sdolan93 Posts: 10 Member
    I drink milk all the time..... I've never had issues with milk..... I've never tried splenda in drinks besides coke or pepsi zero if it has it (not sure what its sweetened with)..... so is whey and soy different?? As i mentioned I've never had protein drinks before and only started with the gatorade ones because they had individual ones and i wasnt sure if I'd like the flavor..... can you be allergic to whey but be fine with cows milk??
  • Sdolan93
    Sdolan93 Posts: 10 Member
    Also i dont seem to have a problem with my sinuses being congested when i get the headaches (which is what the link had mentioned).... they arent in my face or towards my ears like my sinuses its more like towards my temples and back towards the back of my head..... i think it may be the sweetener in it..... i just mentioned it to my mom and she said she gets really bad headaches from splenda.... im gonna switch products and let you guys know what happens..... thanks to everyone who replied

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