10 Mar, 2021
Most children in India are protein deficient, while most Indian parents are unaware of the daily requirement of protein for kids. The daily amount of protein a child needs depends on their age.
There are an array of options available in the market when it comes to healthy and nutritional drinks for kids. But, these drinks may not contain the required amount of protein your kid needs. Therefore, a protein-rich drink is vital.
Gone are the days when protein shakes and drinks were only meant for adults. More and more Indian parents are opting for protein-based drinks for kids for better growth, strength, and immunity.
However, when it comes to protein powder for kids, there is too much false advice thrown around and myths that parents still believe. So, here we are bursting these five most common myths once and for all.
MYTH #1: Protein Powders Will Make My Kid Bulky
FACT: Protein powders, as the name implies, are made of protein which is an important requirement of the human body. It is believed that protein powders should be consumed by gym-goers who are trying to bulk-up or gain muscles. However, contrary to this stigma, protein powders help in the development of a child’s body too. Although, it most certainly cannot make a child bulky or muscular. Even in the case of adults, it takes a lot of hustling in the gym over a long period to gain muscles and bulk up.
MYTH #2: If My Kid is Not Into Sports, He/She Doesn’t Need Protein Powder
FACT: No matter the daily activity level, every kid requires protein. Protein powders are an important source of amino acid that is required for the strength, repairing, and rebuilding of muscle tissue. Unlike fat and starch, a human body does not store excess amino acids for later use, therefore, amino acids must be consumed daily. Since kids do not meet this requirement through their daily diet, a protein powder can be an effective option.
MYTH #3: Whey Protein is Not a Natural Form of Protein
FACT: Whey protein is extracted from cow’s milk. Cow’s milk constitutes 80% casein protein and 20% whey protein. Casein is converted into cheese or paneer, while whey is the leftover liquid that is separated from the cheese or paneer making process. Both components have a PDCAA (Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score) score of 1.0 which is the highest score for a vegetarian protein source.
MYTH #4: Protein Powder Can Help My Child in Gaining or Losing Weight
FACT: Proteins in protein powder are broken down for energy in the body through glycolysis the same way carbohydrates and fats are. So, if a kid consumes more or fewer calories whether it is in form of protein, carbohydrates, or fat, he/she will gain or lose weight accordingly.
MYTH #5: Protein Powder For Kids Can Cause Risk to Kidney & Liver
FACT: There are mainly three types of protein powders for kids available in the market - whey, casein, and soy. However, whey protein is considered to be the safest one out there, provided it’s authentic. It is a water-soluble milk protein, which is easy to digest and 100% vegetarian. There are no side effects to consuming whey protein found yet.
Bottom Line
There are many myths associated with protein powder for kids, these are just a few. Don’t let such misconceptions deprive your child of something that can prove to be extremely beneficial. Protein powder can naturally boost a child’s growth, development, strength, and recovery.
Leave a comment