Plant vs Whey protein: Madhuri Dixit's husband Dr. Shriram Nene explains the better choice for you after 18 kg weight loss

Dr. Shriram Nene, a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon and husband of Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit, recently shared insights into plant and whey protein on Instagram and his YouTube channel. In a video posted on April 23, Dr. Nene explained that whey protein is absorbed faster by the body, making it ideal for post-workout recovery. However, he cautioned that for individuals who are lactose intolerant, whey could cause bloating and digestive discomfort even if highly refined.

Plant protein, he pointed out, fits well into vegan diets and can easily be incorporated into meals. Dr. Nene personally prefers plant protein, stating, “Personally, I stick to plant protein since I'm lactose intolerant. It works well for my body and supports my fitness goals. But when it comes to protein, there's no one-size-fits-all. Always check what works best for you—your body knows best. Listen to it. Fuel it right.”

He emphasized that the choice between the two depends largely on individual needs, advising, “If you are lactose intolerant or vegan, plant protein may be the best. But, if you're aiming for fast muscle recovery and you're neither vegan nor lactose intolerant, whey protein is the better option since it absorbs quicker.” Dr. Nene concluded by urging people to try both options, saying, “Whether it's whey or plant protein, the best one is the one you're actually going to use. So try them both and see what works for you.”

A Personal Health Transformation

Dr. Nene recently opened up about a personal health journey that began after troubling results from a routine health check-up. During a panel discussion and in a YouTube video, he revealed that his health metrics were alarmingly poor. “After my last health check-up, I found I was in big trouble. All my numbers were off — people were literally screaming at me. They said, ‘You’re the healthcare guy in the family — what are you doing?’" he recalled.

In response, Dr. Nene undertook a complete lifestyle overhaul about nine to ten months ago. He eliminated alcohol from his diet and adopted a fully vegan lifestyle. “We decided to go all in — it was a complete transformation. I became my own guinea pig," he shared. The changes led to a loss of 18 kilograms and a reduction of his body fat to 16 percent.

Inspired by a similar experience with his father, who was able to come off diabetes medication after significant lifestyle changes, Dr. Nene decided to apply the same methods to himself. “My dad had been diabetic for 55 years. We made some key changes in his diet and lifestyle, and were eventually able to take him off his diabetic medication. He was 81 when we started — he’s now 86 and doing incredibly well," he said.

Now, Dr. Nene shares his knowledge through social media, offering advice on nutrition, wellness, and proactive health management.

Transition from Surgery to Entrepreneurship

Years earlier, after Madhuri Dixit’s return to Bollywood, Dr. Nene made another significant life decision — leaving his thriving career as a heart surgeon in the U.S. to relocate to India. Reflecting on that period, he mentioned in a YouTube conversation that the decision was not warmly received by his parents. “I am Indian. I grew up from an immigrant start and my parents certainly weren’t happy that I am leaving the prototypical job of a heart surgeon and kind of every Indian’s wet dream with like perfect sort of situations and lots of friends and the head of the hospital,” he shared.

Despite loving his surgical career and finding it highly rewarding, Dr. Nene envisioned a broader impact. “I was very rewarded and to see patients leave the hospital healthy and to interact with their families and make a difference in their lives was amazing but when I looked at the planet, I said there’s 7 billion people. I said what if you could take health care as is traditionally practiced and then use a combination of media and technology to take it to the last mile and create digital frontiers where you can put a doctor in everyone’s pocket,” he said.

In 2011, he left his clinical practice, a move that shocked his colleagues and staff. “In 2011, when I gave up my day job as a practicing clinical heart surgeon, you can imagine the responses. My partners were like, ‘What are you doing? We need you here’. My staff was devastated,” he recounted. However, after witnessing the success of some of his start-up ventures, his parents, initially skeptical, became supportive. “My parents initially weren’t warm to this and when they saw what I had done with some of the start-ups, they wanted to write cheques,” he said.