Shannan’s Journey

I have had many people continuously ask me what exactly is whey protein and what are the benefits. Yes, it is something that helps us in building muscle but there are more benefits. We all know that Muscle is one of the most important factor when it comes to metabolism, and whether or not it will be fast or slow. So it is something you need. The question is always, how much do we need? Everyone has their specific needs so it varies but we all do need it!

Obviously there are more sources than just whey protein ie.e. Fish, eggs, chicken, beef, game, and the list goes on, but here are some benefits of whey protein powder.

What is Whey Protein?
Whey is a dairy product. It comes from cow’s milk and is formed during the making of cheese. Even if you are lactose intolerant, most people are able to still enjoy whey protein with no problems.

The benefits:
weight loss– It’s been shown that whey protein has an indirect impact on hormones that influence the feeling of being full. So if your hunger is satisfied you’ll be more likely to stick with your nutrition plan, and not give in to temptation with a cheat food or meal.

Boosts your immune system– It contains a building block for the antioxidant glutathione. Glutathione is known as the ‘master antioxidant’. It’s important to detoxify the body of poisons, repair DNA, block free radicals, and for producing good health and a long life. Whey protein has been shown to be one of the best sources to unlocking the building block to glutathione.

supplements your diet– Being a protein supplement it is excellent for people who simply cannot get their required protein in for the day. Or if you are simply trying to increase your protein intake, whey protein would be the best, and one of the simplest, sources of protein to do that with. You see we all need a certain amount of protein a day. Without protein you would die. The recommended amount is .8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. As I mentioned, we all have our specific needs and goals so this may vary. Remember muscle is your #1 asset to a fast metabolism, and protein builds lean muscle tissue. A minimum of .6 grams of protein per pound through 1 gram per pound of body weight is a good starting point. Athletes will sometimes go higher than that, but for the general person it is not necessary.

Whey protein comes in 3 different forms. Isolate, Concentrate, and Hydrolyzed. There are actually others, but those are the 3 you will see most often. Concentrate is the most commonly used in the powders you will find in supplement stores. But its quality is the least. Whey protein concentrate will yield a powder between 29-89% protein by dry weight. It is the cheapest to make and will have more carbs and fat then the Isolate and Hydrolyzed, but the carbs and fat are minimal anyway. It is still a very good protein, and is very easily digested. Look for Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) products that are at least 75% protein by dry weight.

Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) is next. It contains 90% or higher protein and very little fat. It is more pure than WPC, but that isn’t always a better thing. It won’t give you any extra muscle or size and it will cost you some extra dough.

Hydrolyzed Whey Protein (HWP) is the last one on the list. HWP is basically WPI with broken down peptides (predigested). It is the most usable by the body. But again, that isn’t always a better thing. All 3 have all of the essential amino acids you need for a complete protein, and that is what the body needs to help either maintain, repair, or grow new lean muscle tissue. Other drawbacks to HWP is the taste. It’s very bitter. Another problem with it is cost. Another step is needed compared to WPC and WPI and that adds costs to the manufacturer and then to you.

Some companies will actually give a blend of 2, or 3, different kinds of whey. But just remember all whey proteins are power packed with amino acids, and will help you put on some metabolism boosting lean muscle tissue. It’s one of the best supplements you can be taking for yourself, right behind a multi-vitamin/mineral and essential fats!!

Another Protein powder is Micellar casein, which is an extremely slow digesting and rich protein source that continues to feed your muscles long after whey proteins have dropped off. This is a great protein for right before bed when you want to feed your body a slow digesting protein while you prepare for a long nights slumber.

While whey protein may increase protein synthesis to a very high degree, higher than casein, scientists are now recognizing that micellar casein is much more important in preventing muscle breakdown. In fact, additional research is demonstrating that the slow and sustained release of amino acids from micellar casein can cause a ‘timed release’ trickle of amino acids into the bloodstream which can last for as many as 7 full hours after ingestion. (i.e. most of the time if not all of the time you sleep!)

Micellar casein is the natural, undenatured form of casein found in milk. It is separated from milk by means of ultrafiltration, without the use of chemicals, which increases the amount of bioactive milk peptides that support immune function as well as enhance muscle growth. "A property of micellar casein is that it may have the ability to form a "gel" in the gut. This provides a steady release of amino acids into the blood stream, which makes it an excellent choice for a long lasting anti-catabolic protein."

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 8:52 am and is filed under Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.