Is there any issue with using protein shakes everyday?

A protein rich breakfast can be a good way of hleping to stave off mid morning munchies. The only downfall with a protein shake to replace breakfast is often the low fibre content and added vitamins/minerals you may get from a cereal or bread option. However the addition of fruit, nuts and chia seeds improves the fibre content and nutrient profile of this meal and as long the protein content is from quality protein sources such as whey protein and contains ~20-30g of protein/serve  there should be nothing wrong with this everyday.

Whey protein is more readily absorped into the body and better for weight management and lean muscle preservation . 

I do see that there is an issue with using protein shakes every day. It's not good for you as it puts a lot of strain on your kidneys and your liver. A person that would need extra protein is either someone that is elderly or breastfeeding or pregnant. Even if you are doing quite strenuous exercise, you would not need that extra protein in the form of whey proteins.  

The protein powders will add protein to the diet but they don't have significant sources of other nutrients that your body needs. So if you were to increase the protein in your diet you would need to take a full balanced supplement that does not only contain the protein but has also got vitamins and minerals. Adults, as of the age of 18 need more than 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram per day, which works out to about 56 grams of protein a day.

Most Australians eat far more protein than they actually need. So protein deficiencies are very rare, and you can get all the protein that you need through your diet without having to add extra protein shakes every day.

I agree with Tracey Eppel here, in that added protein does place a greater strain on the liver and kidneys and is not necessary for the average person. 

Some protein shakes do contain added vitamins and minerals and are more of an ‘overall blend’ to be used instead of a meal. However If your were to be supplementing food with protein shakes, I would only recommend this if you had a thorough understanding of your own nutrition to balance out your vitamins and minerals or were advised to by a nutritional expert.

If you are having milk in the shake (which one would assume) you are already receiving a form of slow releasing protein, called ‘casein’ protein (up to 80% of protein in cows milk). This form of protein is much more beneficial to keeping you feeling more satisfied and full, than whey protein which is fast releasing.

Whey proteins are fast absorbing proteins and are more suited to strenuous exercise and resistance training, where protein synthesis is increased immediately after training. In these situations it is important for your body to receive a protein like ‘whey’ as it is absorbed very quickly with minimal processing, so it can be used by the muscle tissue as quickly as possible. It is not a necessity to use whey protein shakes post resistance training, however it is a convenient and practical option with research that supports its use in muscle recovery. 

In situations where heavy resistance training is undertaken it is recommended to consume 1.5g/kg of protein per day (75kg male = 112.5g of protein/day). If you are having more than the recommended 55g (average figure) of protein per day, without any need for increased protein, then, like other macronutrients (carbohydrate and fat) that are eaten in excess, this added protein/energy will be stored as fat, if it is not used. 

In short, smoothies are a great start to the day, but adding whey protein is not necessary for the normal healthy person. With thr addition of milk, few nuts, fruit and even a low fat yogurt you will be meeting your protein requirements and having a meal that is more nutritionally balanced. 

Thank you for your great response Tracey and Tim.

I agree most people do consume more protein than they need with normal blanced eating and the use of protein shakes are not necessary to achieve adeqaute protein intake. However in some situations where the diet is not balanced or my clients are more likely to skip a meal due to the inconvenience of a meal or find most snacks/melas not satisfying, then I would recommend a protein shake or meal replacement which may have a more satisfying affect on appetite and be an easy meal to have on the run.

I always advocate real whole food proteins such as milk and smoothies as Tim has mentioned and for those time poor or like the conveninece of shake as you go, some protien shakes fit this mould.

For an individualised plan tailoring your nutrition needs, I recommend consulting with an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

I agree with my fellow colleagues that the general population does not need to consume several protein shakes everyday as it does place strain on the liver and kidneys due to the high amounts of protein. Most brands are also fortified with vitamins and minerals which can cause absorption problems (e.g. high intakes of zinc will prevent iron absorption and vice versa). Most protein powders don't contain much carbohydrates and this can be a problem as your body needs the insulin release associated with carbohydrate intake to uptake amino acids (protein) from our foods into our muscles and cells. So you would need to add a carbohydrate based food in with your smoothie (e.g. fruit or oats etc)

If you are going to have a protein shake, I would recommend one that has some carbohydrate in it (or add a carbohydrate-based source) and try not to consume more than 2 shakes a day. A little tip here, a cheaper alternative to whey protein powders is skim milk powder. You can get this at most supermarkets and it will basically do the same thing (but far cheaper). Most people generally achieve their protein intake from their normal diet and therefore do not need to supplement. Our bodies do not store protein and whatever is not used is excreted. For more expert advice I recommend a consultation with an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD). 

For me 1x protein shake per day and exercise, has enabled be to lose 40kg, and see significant results with weight treatments. I have been on whey protein shake for a long time, my LFT's (liver function) and U&E (kidney function) are absolutely fine. Everyone will have differering opinions, it may work for some and possibly not for others...