When you expertise dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea after ingesting a protein shake, it’s possible you’ll need to rethink the way you embody protein shakes in your weight-reduction plan.
Though there’s no analysis that immediately connects protein shakes to dizziness and nausea, allergy symptoms, lactose intolerance, or train could also be inflicting your signs.
You Would possibly Have an Allergy
If a protein shake or powder causes dizziness or nausea, you might have a meals allergy.
Many protein shakes and powders comprise widespread allergens, like milk whey, casein, eggs, or soy, in accordance with Harvard Well being Publishing.
Whereas meals allergy signs fluctuate from individual to individual, different signs can embody:
- Hives or pores and skin rashes
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or tongue
- Problem respiration
- Problem swallowing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
In case you have one undiagnosed allergy, it’s possible you’ll be allergic to different allergens present in protein shakes. Switching to a unique sort of protein shake or powder could relieve disagreeable signs.
When you’re undecided whether or not you’ve got any meals allergy symptoms, think about seeing an allergy specialist. They will take a look at how your physique responds to widespread allergens utilizing a pores and skin prick take a look at or blood take a look at, in accordance with Cleveland Clinic.
In some instances, an allergic response can progress to anaphylaxis, a life-threatening situation. When you expertise a number of allergy signs or your signs are extreme, search fast medical consideration.
You Might Have Low Blood Sugar
Many protein powders and shakes could be excessive in sugar, which can result in reactive hypoglycemia, in accordance with Cleveland Clinic.
Reactive hypoglycemia is low blood sugar that may happen after a high-carbohydrate meal. Whereas not absolutely understood, it could be triggered by easy carbohydrates, like sugars, which may trigger a fast spike after which drop in blood sugar ranges.
Dizziness and nausea are signs of reactive hypoglycemia, which may additionally trigger:
- Shakiness
- Sweating or chills
- Nervousness and nervousness
- Starvation
- Elevated coronary heart charge
- Fatigue or weak spot
- Complications
When you expertise any of those signs, your physician can take a look at your blood sugar ranges to find out if in case you have reactive hypoglycemia.
You’re Ingesting Instantly After Train
Ingesting a protein shake too quickly after a exercise may make you’re feeling sick.
In line with a evaluation printed in March 2025 within the Journal of Medical Drugs, your digestive system slows down and gastric emptying is delayed instantly following high-intensity train. This implies something you eat or drink stays in your digestive system longer.
When you drink a protein shake too rapidly after your exercise, it could possibly sit in your abdomen and trigger signs like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
This impact is extra widespread after high-intensity workout routines, like sprints, swimming, or weight lifting.
You Might Be Delicate to Dairy
In line with Cleveland Clinic, whey protein present in shakes and powders comprises lactose, a sugar that comes from milk.
In case you are lactose illiberal, ingesting whey protein could trigger signs like nausea, vomiting, and abdomen cramps, in accordance with Mayo Clinic.
Merchandise containing whey protein isolate could also be a better option if in case you have lactose intolerance. Whey protein isolate is a sort of whey that’s excessive in protein however low in lactose.
Different protein sources to strive in case you are delicate to dairy embody egg, pea, or rice protein.
