The dark truth about protein shakes: Doctors reveal the deadly health problems they can cause - and why they’re the ‘the biggest con in supplements’ By Angela Epstein Published: 12:01 BST, 13 June 2024 | Updated: 12:32 BST, 13 June 2024 e-mail 10 View comments Protein is having a moment, with supermarket and health store shelves groaning under the weight of shakes and bars. It’s estimated that around one in ten people in the UK eats a protein bar once a week – while a similar number regularly consumes protein powders. And cost doesn’t seem to be an impediment.
Look at the protein shakes sold at Joe and the Juice, the coffee and juice bar chain. It reported a record £45 million in profits last year, helped by the introduction of protein shakes. Its latest Beets and Berries protein shake (which contains strawberries, beetroot powder, banana, date puree, collagen, whey protein and ‘sproud m*lk’ (a milk alternative made with pea protein and rapeseed and oat oils) costs £9, for instance.
Protein is vital for energy, growth, tissue repair and maintenance of our bodies, especially bones and muscles. Joe and the Juice reported a record £45 million in profits last year, helped by the introduction of protein shakes It supports the function of organs such as the brain, heart and liver. It also plays a vital role in maintaining aspects of normal body function: for instance, our antibodies, an essential part of the immune system, and haemoglobin, which carries blood aro.
