Protein based suplements

[Matory]

Hi everyone!
My name is Marko and this is my first time to post a thread here.
I'm apologizing in advance for my bad english.

I have a few questions about protein based suplements for muscle growht (whey powders, BCAA, glutamine...)
So, let's start:

1. Is there any advantage in favour of this suplements over regular food?
(for example when taking a PostWorkoutMeal)
Is it necessary to use it? (to maximize the effect of workout of course)

2. What is recommended daily dose for protein for a healthy male who workouts with weights 4 times per week?
(the usual story is 2g per kg so is it true?)

3. Is there any unwanted consequences in case of overdose?
for instance kidney problems, or maybe low holesterol? (i read it somewhere that high intake of proteins my result lowering holesterol levels LDL and HDL)

4. Since protein is made of amino acids including BCAA and glutamine, why shoud anybody use suplements like BCAA and glutamine when using also whey powders?
The company that makes those suplements wants for sure us to believe that is absolutely necessary for us to use all kinds of suplements. Therefore I'm interested in expert opinion. What of all this kinds of suplements is realy useful?

[Paxiled]

Too much protein damages the kidneys because it is very hard to digest, and requires a lot of stomach acid for proper digestion.  It also throws off the proper balance of other nutrients.  BCAAs are liver protective for the same reason lots of things are liver protective --they have antioxidant properties that help protect the liver.  And I can't tell you how much protein is optimal for you -- that will depend on your particular metabolism and whether you're getting the results you want.  For general info, consult google and you'll gat a lot of different theories of how much protein is optimal.  Some think a lot, some think a little.  I don't really know.  But if you're weight lifting, and you're getting no results, that could be an indication you need more protein.  Slow recovery from exertion is another possible sign.  Sorry I can't give you a more exact answer, but I really don't think there is one.  Best thing is to read up on it, books like The Zone, and decide which theory sounds the best to you.  Then, use yourself as a guinea pig and see if it seems to work for you.

[Matory]

First of all, thanks for the answer.
I'm not looking for insanely huge muscles.(like bodybuilders)
I just want to look and feel good, and be HEALTHY and capable. So health is a priority for me.
I was just interested in possible benefits of using protein based supplements.
I tend to maximize benefit/downside quotient bi mixing adequate intake of macro/micro nutritients (not sure how to spell this one) and was wandering if supplements may be useful.
Of course I'm talking about proper use of mentioned supplements.
Therefore I have a few questions:
1. How much protein (g protein/kg bodyweight) does healthy male body needs to maintain existing muscle mass? (i'm not talking about supplements)

2. How much essential amino acids?

@Paxiled

3. why heavy protein intake for long periods of time can damage the kidneys?

4.why BCAAs are good for the liver?

[Paxiled]

There is no definitive answer to your question, which is why it's hard to tell what's true and what isn't.  Nobody really knows.  Heavy protein intake for long periods of time can damage the kidneys.  The ideal amount of protein for a normal diet isn't as high as people think it is, but there are different dietary theories about how much is the right amount; for bodybuilders, more protein helps build muscle.  The difference between taking BCAAs and the whey protein is you get more of them taking them separately than you get in a balanced protein supplement such as whey.  Body builders overdose on everything in order to maximize their workouts -- they're not looking for health, they're looking for big muscles.  Same with serious athletes of all kinds -- they're looking for an advantage, not health.  Big muscles aren't actually particularly healthy, since they require so much care and feeding and reduce flexibility -- they just look good.  So you're not talking health when you're talking about maximizing any athletic performance, you're talking about something else.  How to achieve that will vary by theory -- if you read the body building mags, you'll get a pretty good cross section of what these beliefs are, and you'll see how experts differ.  You'll also see that the people with the really big muscles all use illegal substances -- you can't get there naturally.  Now, there is a good thing about BCAAs -- they're good for the liver.  As to whether you need a protein supplement, no.  You should get all the protein you need from your diet, unless you're a vegetarian, in which case you might need to supplement methionine.  But if you want bigger muscles than just working out will get you, then yes, you might need supplementation to exceed what your body can naturally achieve by diet and exercise alone.