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What Age Can Kids Start Drinking Whey Drinks?
Whey protein can help build lean muscle mass, and some people are wondering if young children can drink whey drinks at a tender age.
Doctors recommend that a child can drink regular milk (cow's milk) after the age of one. That is a very young age to start drinking regular milk.
Whey protein is created from milk extracts. So in that sense, whey is supposedly safe for kids. However, drinking whey protein drinks at a very young age is not recommended for various reasons. The main reason is that kids tend to be very sensitive to what they consume and allergic reactions may occur. To prevent that from happening, whey protein meant for adults (whey protein is generally safe if you're into teen hood - i.e. above the age of 13) is not added to a child's diet.
If you really want to feed your kids with whey drinks, you can purchase protein drinks that are meant specifically for kids. These are products that are designed with a young child's development in mind. They are fortified with additional vitamins and usually, ingredients such as lactose and soy are not included to prevent allergic reactions. In addition, the protein in such drinks are also a lot less (approx. 7 grams) in a single serving.
Always remember, whey protein is only a source of dietary supplement. In other words, don't expect all your protein to come from whey protein products. You get like 7 grams of protein from your kid's whey drink, and then you get the rest from your daily diet. Try to eat food sources that are rich in protein to help with muscle growth and development. Such foods include eggs, soy milk, lean meat such as chicken breast, and beans.
Besides a well balanced diet, make sure that your kid gets plenty of exercise. No point eating all that protein if the body doesn't need it. Excess protein will be wasted (passed out from the body) and may even be converted into fat (not good). An active child will stimulate muscle growth and development and the high quality proteins will come in handy for muscle tissue repair work.
Also, many kids nowadays have heavy workload from school, and they find that they are often stressed out. Stress can create all sorts of health problems. Kids may have problem sleeping well at night and may experience a loss of appetite. Managing stress level well will help improve overall health. Work hard but play hard as well. When it's time to sleep, try to get some quality sleep.
And finally, remember to stay hydrated at all times. Drink plenty of fluids on a regular basis to avoid dehydration. This is especially important if you have an active kid who loves running around in the outdoors.
The best times to drink whey protein drinks are:
1) Morning, before any form of physical activity. 2) Right after an exercise session (gym class?) 3) Right before going to bed.
It is alright to drink multiple protein drinks in a single day so long as the drinks are meant to help the child meet his or her daily protein needs.
