(Featured image via premierprotein.com)
Premier Protein shakes have become increasingly popular over the years, as both social media influencers and fitness gurus have praised them.
There is a popular trend on TikTok where people are posting videos of themselves adding a Premier Protein shake into their coffee as a creamer substitution. There are several reasons why people are trying this trend.
Many keto diet practitioners are using it as a coffee creamer substitute because it offers 30 grams of protein per serving, and only five grams of carbs per serving. 30 grams of protein is the equivalent of eating three chicken thighs or five hard-boiled eggs according to The Source by Life Time.
Premier Protein is made with whey and casein proteins. While there are benefits to the consumption of whey protein, there are also precautions to be aware of before one decides to add any form of whey protein into a dietary regimen.
However, using Premier Protein for weight loss may be more of a “quick fix” as opposed to a long-term solution. According to Niraj Shah, board certified physician, “Using protein to suppress appetite will yield results if you’re focused on weight loss. However, research has shown that this type of approach produces only short-term results,” (Parade.com).
Over consumption of whey protein can lead to side effects such as “increased bowel movements, nausea, thirst, bloating, cramps, reduced appetite, tiredness (fatigue), and headache,” according to WebMd.
Other precautions to consider before taking Premier Protein: if you have an underlying medical condition, they may not be for you. They are also not safe for vegan lifestyles as whey protein is made from “the watery portion of milk that separates from the curds when making cheese,” according to WebMD. Talk to a doctor or a nutritionist before you start using Premier Protein if you have any dairy allergies.
I decided to try Premier Protein for myself after I saw one of my favorite social media influencers use it in her coffee. I first tried the caramel flavored shake and I used one shake as both a meal replacement for my breakfast and a pre-workout beverage for energy.
Overall, I was happy with the shake. My workouts were going well and I felt energized in the mornings. With one shake, I was able to stay full for hours, even after my workouts.
About two weeks into using Premier Protein, my skin started breaking out horribly. Prior to trying Premier Protein, I had been limiting my dairy intake, as dairy has always had horrible effects on my skin.
I thought that if I followed a diet that balanced out the dairy from the shakes, and continued working out, the acne wouldn’t be as persistent. This was not the case. Every morning I woke up, my face looked worse.
At about four weeks in, I decided they were no longer worth it, and decided to stop drinking them.
Around the same time I stopped drinking them, the influencer I followed who sparked my interest in trying them, posted about her most recent batch of shakes being disappointing.
She had recently purchased them from a major retailer and her batch was unconsumable. She posted a video of herself dumping the shakes out in her sink after she discovered all of her shakes were nothing but an oil substance.
The shakes she poured out looked like canola oil, and that’s when I decided that I would not be consuming them anymore.
Personally, I do not think the brand Premier Protein is being transparent enough about what is in their shakes. I would like to know more about the artificial dyes that they must be using to keep their beverages from looking like the oily substance the influencer I follow used.
Until there is more research about Premier Protein shakes available, I will try to find a dairy-free alternative that has a transparent list of ingredients.
