15yo and protein powders

[Badgerstriper]

My recently turned 15yo son is wanting to take protein powder. He goes to the gym with his friends four times a week after school (this is social as much as about the fitness) and has talked about protein for a while now.
We don’t eat meat every day but he eats eggs for breakfast and I always try to include other protein ie beans, tofu, quorn in our dinner if it’s not a meat day. He eats a variety of school meals for lunch - sometimes with meat sometimes not.
He’s tall and very lean and strong already. I don’t restrict his snacks and he’s handy in the kitchen so I let him eat whenever he wants as he always chooses quite healthily.
So my question is - will a couple of scoops of protein power several times a week cause any problems? He’s also asking about créatine.
Although I also go to the gym a few times a week all of the supplement stuff is out of my comfort zone so I’m hoping someone here will have some experience! Thanks for reading.

Protein powder isn't needed but they are all obsessed with protein and it won't do him any harm.

I have twin 16 year old boys who use a whey protein as part of a balanced diet - I did a deep dive before they started and it's fine as long as their diet is healthy and it's a good quality protein powder

I would say protein powder is fine but not creatine

Take protein powder? It's not a drug, it's just food.

Why not créatine?

Creatine gives you energy but doesn't provide amino acids to build muscle- creatine is not a protein powder

I’m just being cautious as when researching I’ve seen concerns about an excess of protein being bad for the kidneys.

From my research whey seemed the best - I have it in yoghurt as apparently menopausal women need a lot of protein too

You are wise to urge caution.

www.healthforteens.co.uk/lifestyle/nutrition-diet/protein-just-the-facts/

I’m thinking he doesn’t need the créatine. He’s 15 so full of energy anyway! It came as part of the bundle on MyProtein (if anyone uses that one?)

I have 2 teaspoons of plant based protein powder in a milkshake every day and I'm perfectly healthy.

Thank you - I had read that page before too.

A bit of protein powder won't harm. Any protein over and above what your body needs just gets flushed out in your urine. Which is why excessive amounts are bad for kidneys but that's really excessive amounts. A protein shake a day for someone who doesn't eat a lot of meat won't be an issue unless other things are going on kidney wise.

That said my son is a swimmer and the nutritional advice they are given is to get protein from whole foods if possible. So nuts, chicken, eggs, cheese etc

https://www.felixhospital.com/blogs/potential-side-effects-of-excess-intake-of-protein-supplements#:~:text=Excess%20intake%20of%20these%20proteins,effects%20include%20flatulence%20and%20diarrhea.&text=If%20taken%20in%20excess%20quantities,by%20weight%2C%20we%20mean%20fat.

@Badgerstriper I'm with you - my boys don't have creatine just whey protein powder - sometimes in a smoothie or with yoghurt - I have it too - my protein is good . I also use the choc one with coffee to make a protein iced coffee - it's lovely

Thanks for sharing that link - I’ll keep an eye out for those side effects.

Thank you everyone. I think I’ll let him try it and just exercise caution. To be clear - I don’t doubt it’s safety in adults, I just wanted opinions on any problems for children.

Pea protein or other vegan protein powders are good if you find Whey protein causes acne which is quite common particularly in teenagers.

@Hellocatshome we tried those but we didn't like the texture- perhaps we should have tried a different brand but luckily no additional acne issues

@Hellocatshome That’s a good tip - thanks!

Better off with pure protein

Lentils, eggs, chicken, chick peas etc etc. Cottage cheese, Greek yog, peanut butter.

What's pure protein?

Get him to follow Eddie Abbew on Instagram he will see that they are shit! Bad for you and can give you urine problems ….whole foods are all that are needed.

eddie is an ex professional body builder who used to take whey powders and now pushes healthy eating with natural foods

he also owns a body building gym in Hertfordshire

very knowledgeable and has a huge following

My DS tried them and they made him sick for weeks. I wouldn't let him have them again.