Protein Powders
Fortunately, we can incorporate high-quality proteins into our diet quickly and easily. Dietary protein powder isolates can be mixed with just about anything to create a high-powered protein shake in minutes. Whey protein enables our bodies to rebuild and repair themselves faster than ever before. The more effective your body becomes at rebuilding and repairing, the better equipped your body will be to burn off unwanted fat.
Whey protein, a byproduct of cheese production, is the highest-quality protein known to science. It also can be fat and lactose-free. Some of the many advantages that whey protein isolates have over other protein sources include:
They exit the stomach faster than other protein sources, providing a substantial, rapid rise in blood amino acids. The result is enhanced anabolism.
Lactose-free forms of whey enable people with lactose intolerance to benefit from whey’s superior amino acid profile.
They help to stimulate the release of the hormone glucagon, which stimulates fat burning.
They stimulate the liver’s release of special polypeptides, called somatomedins, which control the rate of muscle growth.
In clinical settings, whey isolates have been shown to increase the immune response by up to 500%, due to their high levels of the amino acid L-cysteine.
Whey contains a small protein compound called glycomacropeptide (GMP), which decreases appetite levels by stimulating the release of an appetite-suppressing hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK). In recent studies, GMPs from whey protein were shown to raise CCK by a whopping 415%.
A number of different types of whey protein are on the market. Becoming a smart consumer is important. Quality whey proteins are extremely expensive to produce, so many companies blend their formulas with cheaper concentrates.
Three Types of Powdered Whey Protein
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) - Highest Priced
Whey Protein Isolate powders go through the best filtering process to remove fat and carbohydrates. In general, these powders will contain a higher percentage of protein compared to Whey Protein Concentrate - generally around 90% protein. These are best utilized immediately after a workout and first thing in the morning when fast-acting protein is needed most.
AST Sports Science VP2 Cytodyne CytoPro WPI EAS Precision Protein HSN Primer Protein Nature’s Best IsoPure Protein Kaizen Whey Protein Isolate Prolab Whey Protein Isolate Syntrax Nectar Urban Biologics Crystal-Pro
Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC)
These products contain Whey Protein Concentrate (generally around 75% to 80% protein) and may also have a small amount of Whey Protein Isolate blended in. None of these products contains more Whey Protein Isolate than Concentrate. Whey Protein Concentrate is much more economical than the Isolates because the process of removing most of the carbs and fat is relatively inexpensive compared to getting the maximal amounts out to isolate the protein.
Champion Nutrition Pro-Score 100 Cytodyne Methoxy-Pro Designer Protein EAS Muscle Drive HP GEN HumanoPro HDT Instant Whey Protein Shake ISS Research Complete Whey Power Labrada ProPlete Gold (with bits of fruit or chocolate) MuscleTech Nitro-Tech Optimum Any Whey (Unflavored) Pinnacle Juiced Protein with MyoZap/CSP3
Protein Blends (Mixed Protein Sources)
Many researchers believe that quick-absorbing proteins like Whey Protein are best immediately after a workout and first thing in the morning when your body has extra protein needs, but a mixture of various slower-absorbing proteins are better at other times of the day to spread out the absorption for several hours. This helps keep amino acids in the bloodstream for use by muscle tissue as needed.
Biotest Low Carb GROW! Protein HDT Pro Blend 55 HSN Driver Protein ISS Research ProM3 MET-Rx Protein Plus Labrada ProV60 Molecular Nutrition Sustained Protein Muscle-Link ProFusion Naturade N-R-G Protein Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex Promax Protein Powder Sportpharma Lean Protein Powder Syntrax Isomatrix Universal Nutrition Animal Max Universal Nutrition Whegg Zone Perfect Protein Powder
| Protein Source | BV |
|---|---|
|
Whey Protein Isolate Blends Whey Concentrate (Lactalbumin) Whole Egg Cow’s Milk Egg White (Albumin) Fish Beef Chicken Casein Rice Soy Wheat Beans Peanuts |
100-159 104 100 91 88 83 80 79 77 74 59 54 49 43 |
Protein powders are useful to supplement your diet with a high quality protein without consuming the saturated fats that frequently accompany whole foods that are high in protein.
Some people prefer to eat foods that are high in carbohydrates, so consuming protein drinks with meals allows them to continue to eat their preferred foods while getting the protein their body needs. Protein powder is also excellent for use in recipes to make Zone diet, low carbohydrate diet, ketogenic diet, or just high protein meals.
The Biological Value, or BV, of a protein is an indicator of the quality of the protein. It is ameasure of a protein’s ability to be used by the body (or its bioavailability).
Many advertisers claim their whey has a “BV” value in excress of 150, but that’s impossible as well as misleading, since the maximum BV score is around 100.
The quality of whey as a protein source is only a small part of the story, of course.
Whey protein provides the building blocks of glutathione (GSH), a critical component of a properly functioning immune system, and probably the most important anti-oxidant in the body.
Whey protein has been reported to
- increase immunity
- supress hunger
- encourage fat burning
- lower cortisol levels (a stress hormone)
- fight cancer cells
- have anti-bacterial and anti-microbial activity
Bottom Line:
One of the benefits of consuming high-quality whey protein is that you are guaranteed the exact amount of protein you need, without the added fat and carbs - a definite bonus for any fat loss program.
Recommendations:
One or two whey protein shakes should be added into your daily meals depending on your activity level. Your protein shake should contain whey protein and fruit from the berry family (preferably blueberries) or the melon family.