Whey protein is a dietary supplement either isolated from whey (the by-product of cheese) or separated from the casein. If taken regularly and properly, whey protein can make the difference in your bodybuilding – it is critical for muscle growth, plus it can significantly boost your energy. But this does not apply to all whey protein products; they are not created equal, so how do you choose the right one?! Will the taste be the deciding factor, or maybe the brand name or maybe you’ll go with what’s on sale? None of these. You should base your decision on your goals and protein content.
Whey protein comes in three forms: whey isolate protein (WPI), whey protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein hydrolysate (WPH). The main difference between the three is their protein content – WPC contains around 55-89% proteins, WPI contains 95% of proteins while WPH has the highest concentration of proteins but is not favoured by athletes and bodybuilders because of its strong smell and bad taste.
Compared to other forms of whey protein, whey isolate protein powder has the most complete nutritional profile making it the best option for people with different lifestyles, workout regimes and diet plans. It has the lowest amount of fat and carbs and is rich in essential amino acids including leucine and cysteine.
Amino acids are the building blocks of this protein powder and they have an important role in building, maintaining and re-building muscle mass as well as preventing breakdown of muscle tissue. Leucine promotes better protein synthesis, muscle growth and promotes fat loss while cysteine boosts the immune system, stimulates the secretion of the strongest antioxidant in the body glutathione and is proven to reduce the risk of breast cancer in women.
Because essential amino acids are mainly found in foods of animal origin such as meat, dairy and eggs, vegetarians and vegans (and even those who eat animal products regularly) are likely to face protein deficiency, hence the need for protein supplements such as WHI. Beside high amount of protein per serving, another advantage of whey isolate protein powder is that it contains the minimal amounts of lactose making it the best choice for anyone with lactose intolerance. Moreover, unlike whey concentrate, WHI is faster absorbed (meaning increased blood sugar level and higher insulin response) which is why it is the most used post-workout protein supplement.
To summarize: If you want a protein supplement that will help you boost your health, and is easily absorbed then go with whey protein isolate. For the best results, take WHI half an hour to one hour after your workout.
