Do protein shakes cause diarrhea?

[d'Anconia]

I've noticed that when I drink a protein shake (consisting of 2.5 scoops of whey protein and about 2 cups of milk) after my workout I tend to get diarrhea. Does anyone else have this problem and what can I do to fix it?

I've tried drinking water with it assuming that perhaps I was getting dehydrated or something (I don't exactly know what causes diarrhea) but that didn't work. I might have been drinking too much or too little water though.

I thought that eating a little bit of food with it would help but it didn't seem to help (it's not like I ate a complete meal with it, just a couple mouthfuls). I like to get the protein shake in after my workout but would get too full to drink a whole shake and whole meal after my workout.

The only thing I can think of is that perhaps the shakes are too concentrated with protein? Maybe there is something about whey protein that our digestive tracts can have problems with if we don't take the protein shakes correctly (I assume since I'm having problems).
BTW I'm almost positive the diarrhea is coming from the shakes because that was the only time I had problems with them. As you can tell this is a problem because I want to get the most out of my weightlifting which would require that I get enough protein in me.

[Built]

Do you normally drink that much milk at one time? It could be the lactose.

[d'Anconia]

Well technically the amount of milk that I have in it is only around 2 cups or so (yeah it's a thick shake).

I'll try changing different things up to try to eradicate (wow that's a cool word and I feel cool for using it) the problem.

[Nosaj]

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence! I'd say constapation is worse than having diarrhea, so count your blessings! But hey, look on the bright side, it's impossible to be constapated and have diarrhea at the same time, yes, the glass is half full.

I take my protein shakes (ON brand) with water during the day and with milk during meals and I've NEVER had a problem with diarrhea. It might be a case specific issue with your genetics or diet, but I woulden't say that whey protein causes diarrhea. For me, it's almost the opposite, I'm usually firmer than softer, which might be my diet, but I drink a lot of protein shakes and don't share your same problem.

Not exactly the most helpful comment I know, but something to reference off of.

[thetopdog]

Last summer 2 of my friends were drinking this $hitty weightgainer called Mammoth 2500. They were telling me how it gave them diarrhea almost every time they drank it, and I told them there is no way that's even possible. So I decided to be a real man and down a full 2500 calorie serving...

A few hours later, I was in the bathroom and my stomach felt like it was turning inside out. I don't even know what the point of this post is, just stay away from low grade, nasty protein

[Canadian Crippler]

The servings are 960 calories, not 2500... your friends gave you one too many servings.

[thetopdog]

The servings are 960 calories, not 2500... your friends gave you one too many servings.

I can't even really remember exactly how many calories were in it, but I assumed that since the name was Mammoth 2500, there were 2500 calories in a serving. I could have been wrong though

Whatever it was, that Mammoth $hit is garbage. I've never had a probelm with another protein or weight gainer in my life

[Unreal]

Eat more veggies/fiber. Something fibrous. I like to snack on celery/brocolli.

[sCaRz*Of*PaiN]

Yeah...I used to get that all the time. A lactose pill wasn't enough. Then I started taking flax oil with the protein shake and I don't have that problem anymore.

[Built]

Yes, that's right - fat slows the absorption so the lactose doesn't all hit you at once.

I knew a woman in University who was doing her Master's on lactose intolerance, and she told me that lots of people who have trouble with skim milk are fine with whole milk, particularly if they spread it out over the day rather than chugging it all at once.

The butterfat helps, but of course, any fat will help.

[Altephor]

Either way, I have the same problem and never thought about the fat angle.. so.. good troll, cookie for you!

[d'Anconia]

Old thread but the issue ended up being lactose. For some reason it took me 19 years or so before I actually became lactose intolerant. Lactaid is your friend!

[Mercuryblade]

Old thread but the issue ended up being lactose. For some reason it took me 19 years or so before I actually became lactose intolerant. Lactaid is your friend!

The reason is that as babies we produce lots of it (we are nursing at this stage of our life). Humans technically were never "designed" to ingest dairy after we get done nursing. Lactose intolerance is caused by low levels of the enzyme lactase, which cleaves lactose in galactose and glucose.
Because producing unneeded enzymes is wasteful, we produce less and less lactase as we age, and this drop in lactase levels occurs at different rates for different people. This is why so many elderly people drink Lactaid. So it only naturally makes sense that many people don't develop an intolerance to lactose until later in their lives.

[d'Anconia]

The reason is that as babies we produce lots of it (we are nursing at this stage of our life). Humans technically were never "designed" to ingest dairy after we get done nursing. Lactose intolerance is caused by low levels of the enzyme lactase, which cleaves lactose in galactose and glucose.
Because producing unneeded enzymes is wasteful, we produce less and less lactase as we age, and this drop in lactase levels occurs at different rates for different people. This is why so many elderly people drink Lactaid. So it only naturally makes sense that many people don't develop an intolerance to lactose until later in their lives.

Excellent explanation. I didn't know it was common for people to become lactose intolerant after ~20-25 years of age or so.

[Off Road]

The thread got bumped by a spammer, that I deleted. But, let the thread live again

[Focused70]

Yay for wands of thread necromancy! LOL.

[dynamo]

I'm getting there myself, i find i am perpetually bloated unless I lay off the milk, i am used to drinking about 2 gallons a week, but now ill have to stop. sigh... oh right im in my 20s

[rudydog]

Hay d'Anconia, I have the same problem. I use Monster milk. Sometimes I mix it with milk and outher times with Water. I dosnt matter what I mix it with, I still have the same problem. "diarrhea" Im thanking its from 2much protien at one time. Your body can only take it some much.
hope this helps to keep your thread going. I sure could use a gd answer why this is happining.
I

[rudydog]

Hay d'Anconia, I have the same problem. I use Monster milk. Sometimes I mix it with milk and outher times with Water. I dosnt matter what I mix it with, I still have the same problem. "diarrhea" Im thanking its from 2much protien at one time. Your body can only take it some much.
hope this helps to keep your thread going. I sure could use a gd answer why this is happining.
I