Protein shakes, protein bars, protein smoothies — people who exercise regularly have been taking them for years. They are described as nutritional supplements with high protein content.
The habit is becoming more and more common and now even among those who don’t necessarily exercise regulary.
Many find them to be tasty and believe they are a decent substitute for when you are on the go and don’t have time for a meal, unaware of the potential health risks of consuming too much.
Now a family in Australia want to warn everyone after their 25-year-old daughter died from what can be described as an overdose of protein supplements.
25-year-old mother of two, Meegan Hefford, was planning to compete in a bodybuilding contest in Australia, taking place in September 2017.
In order to stand a chance in the competition, she had to lose a lot of body fat while building substantial muscle.
Therefore, she went on a strict diet, which included consuming large amounts of protein powders.
Meegan wanted to succeed badly, so she pushed herself as hard as she could, working out twice a day, every day. During the summer, her family noticed that Meegan was often tired and hungry.
“I said to her, ‘I think you’re doing too much at the gym,'” her mom told the New York Post. “‘Calm down, slow it down.'”
But Meegan’s condition worsened. Then, in June this year, the 25-year-old was found dead in her apartment.
The autopsy showed that Meegan had suffered from a urea cycle disorder, a disease that prevents the body from breaking down ammonia, a residual product of protein.
In other words, Meegan’s blood had unusually high levels of ammonia, a result of excessive protein consumption.
With three months left to compete in the competition, Meegan’s life ended abruptly, at just 25 years.
Now her family want to warn others who consume a lot of supplements.
“I know there are people other than Meegan who have ended up in hospital because they’ve overloaded on supplements,” her mother told the New York Post. “The sale of these products needs to be more regulated.”
This is an extremely tragic and heartbreaking story.
I think it’s our duty to help share this grieving family’s warning so that others are weary about consuming excessive amounts of protein supplements
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