Types of Whey Protein Powder
Getting protein (whey protein in particular) into your diet is not only key to your overall health, but also to building up and maintaining strong powerful muscles. But it’s important to know the difference between the types of whey protein, as well as the brands that manufacture them. In this article we are going focus on only two: whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate.
So as a choosy consumer you can make an informed choice at the end of this piece regarding the best type of whey for your individual needs.
Let’s take a closer look.
What Is Whey Protein Isolate (WPI)?
According to The Sport Review, whey protein isolate (WPI) is key for those who are lactose-intolerant. Whey protein isolate is a specific form of whey protein that has had all of the fat and lactose removed.
This is important as many people have lactose allergies and thus are unable to ingest whey protein in its concentrated form. At the same time, the isolate products still pack in the protein punch of the concentrated form.
What is Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC)
Whey protein concentrate, on the other hand, is the concentrated form of whey, which, according to WebMD, is the watery portion of milk that separates form the curds during the process of cheese-making. As mentioned, this comes from milk, and thus cannot be consumed by those who are lactose-intolerant.
Conclusion
Whey protein concentrate can be take as a food supplement and as an alternative to milk for those with the allergy. According to webMD, whey protein, in addition to providing fuel for muscle growth, might also help to bolster the immune system as well.
Both whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate are very often the typical ingredients in a protein shake blend or whey complex–those packages of powder that you get at the nutrition store to mix with water for a shake. Some products solely contain whey protein concentrate and some contain the whey protein isolate form. Some even contain a mixture of the two forms together.
However, as we’ve already discussed, those who are lactose-intolerant must avoid the whey protein forms as the concentrated form of whey protein still contains lactose, which can result in a very unhappy you. Furthermore, it is still important to research products that use isolate and concentrate blends as many use a significantly lower amount of concentrate which still makes these types of mixtures a viable option for you.
Do you have any additional questions about whey protein concentrate or whey protein isolate? Please let me know in the comments below.