Parents Urged To Steer Clear Of Protein Supplements For Kids

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Protein supplements are becoming wildly popular.

Athletes use them all the time and now more kids are taking them. But do they really need them?

Joe Orlando was a high school sophomore when he wanted to build muscle to improve his performance on the football field.

He stepped up his workout routine, changed his diet and took protein supplements.

"I wanted to make sure my body was healthy and could take all the impact that was going on throughout the season," Orlando said. "When I started taking them, I did notice that I was getting muscle."

But it's not just athletes adding protein supplements to their diet. Experts say they are seeing more kids taking them, too.

But do children who are still developing need protein supplements?

Michele Chiaramonte, a registered dietician, says "No". Her first line of therapy is what she calls the good, old-fashioned way: through whole foods.

"For the average healthy adolescent and teenager, their protein needs can be met through the diet," Chiaramonte said. "Supplements are not really necessary."

Protein requirements largely depend on a child's weight, age and activity level.

According to the Institute of Medicine, on average, children nine to thirteen need about 34 grams of protein daily.

That jumps to 52 grams for boys 14 to 18 and to 46 grams for girls those ages.

More athletic children should consume slightly more.

Experts agree you can easily fulfill those needs through protein-rich foods like these.

"If the child was taking in the 50 grams of protein that they needed a day and then took a protein supplement on top of that it could give them more protein than they need," Chiaramonte said.

Too much protein can make your kidneys and liver work harder than they should, which, in turn, can create health risks.

Ed Reardon, a certified nutritionist and trainer to athletes of all levels and ages, is a food-first fan too. But he thinks the busy lives many families live will impede even the best of plans.

"Kids always want to get all their protein from whole, regular and natural food. Great idea, great concept. Problem with it is it doesn't match with reality. A lot of times without supplementing protein shakes, protein powders, etc., they're going to have a very difficult time meeting the requirements," Reardon explained.

As a parent, if you're interested in protein supplements or discover your child is already taking them, experts encourage you to read labels, watch out for products loaded with sugar or additives and keep track of total protein intake.

"What a parent can do is understand one thing - control what you can control. Control your home environment," he said.

Joe went on to play football in college, and feels the supplements were necessary for him.

"I'm not sure I would've gotten the full amount of protein my body needed," he said.