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Whey Protein
•Last Updated: October 12, 2023
Whey protein is one of the two high-quality proteins derived from cow’s milk (casein being the other). Its high digestibility, quick absorption, and well-researched benefits for muscle gain and cardiometabolic health make it a popular protein supplement among athletes and older adults.
Whey Protein is most often used for
Last Updated:October 12, 2023
Whey protein is a collection of proteins found in whey, a byproduct of cheesemaking. When a coagulant (usually rennet) is added to milk, the curds (casein) and whey separate; whey protein is the water-soluble part of milk. Whey protein is often consumed as a supplement in the form of dry powders with various levels of processing that affect how concentrated a source of protein they are and how fast they’re absorbed. There are three main types of whey protein: whey concentrate, whey isolate, and whey hydrolysate.
How much protein do I need per day?
What’s the difference between the various types of whey protein?
Whey is considered to be a high-quality, well-absorbed source of protein with benefits that are similar to those of increasing protein intake in general, such as augmenting muscle gain when paired with resistance training, limiting muscle loss during low-calorie diets/aging, and modestly limiting fat gain during periods of excessive calorie intake (e.g., “bulking”).
Whey contains high levels of the amino acid leucine, which is the most proteogenic (capable of increasing muscle protein synthesis or MPS) amino acid. As such, whey may be more potent at stimulating MPS than other protein types.[31] Furthermore, supplementing with whey may benefit blood pressure,[32] endothelial function,[33] and appears to improve several glycemic- and lipid-related biomarkers in adults with type 2 diabetes and other metabolic conditions.[34][35][36]
Do I need to take whey protein immediately after my workout?
Is whey protein superior to other protein sources?
Is whey protein safe to consume while pregnant or lactating?
Is whey protein effective for older adults?
Some individuals may experience digestive discomfort, bloating, gas, or diarrhea after consuming whey protein, but this will depend on the dose and one’s tolerance. Whey protein concentrate contains the milk sugar lactose, so individuals with lactose intolerance may want to avoid this form of whey protein in favor of isolate/hydrolysate (which don’t contain fat and contain very little lactose, making these forms of whey protein tolerable by all but the most lactose-sensitive individuals).
Whey (and protein in general) does not harm the liver or kidneys, but high-protein diets can exacerbate or accelerate pre-existing damage. People with damaged livers or kidneys should exercise caution when increasing protein intake quickly without the guidance of a doctor. See more below: “Can eating too much protein be bad for you?”
Furthermore, a 2018 report on protein powders found that of the 134 products tested, over 70% of them had detectable levels of lead and cadmium. However, no data were reported on whey protein powders specifically and it should be noted that “detectable” does not necessarily mean harmful.[37]
Can eating too much protein be bad for you?
Whey protein appears to resist coagulation in the stomach and pass quickly to the intestines (at least when compared to casein and other proteins). Leucine spikes in the blood approximately 40–60 minutes after the ingestion of whey protein,[31] which is quicker than that observed for other protein sources (e.g., tuna, turkey, and egg).[38] As such, whey rapidly stimulates muscle protein synthesis (MPS).
Note that Whey Protein is also known as:
- whey
- whey concentrate
- whey isolate
- whey hydrolysate
- hydrolyzed whey
- whey protein powder
Whey Protein should not be confused with:
- Milk protein
- Casein protein
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