Most consumers think of athletes, weight-lifters, and bodybuilders when they hear of whey protein. Although whey is popular for its muscle enhancing effect, there is far more to the picture.
Whey protein is more than just a supplement to sneak more protein into your diet.
It’s more than just a “replacement” for those who don’t have time or the desire to cook or eat whole foods.
Put simply, whey protein is not a compromise. As you’ll soon discover, it does more than simply replace meals and enhance muscles. Nearly everyone can benefit from whey. Do you home cook all your meals with whole foods and healthy food sources of protein? You can still benefit from whey. Are you not much of a gym-goer, let alone a barbell junkie? You still can benefit from whey.
Consider just a few of the science-backed, evidence-based reasons you should be using whey protein.
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Lean up with whey protein
What makes whey really stand out amongst other proteins is its rich leucine content. Whey is loaded with this important branched chain amino acid.
This amino acid does more than just supply another “building block” for protein synthesis, though. Leucine is one of the most anabolic (or growth-promoting) amino acids. It helps stimulate your body’s own muscle-building enzymes.
The truth is your body is not always in muscle protein-building mode. For example, when you exercise, this process slows down. After exercise, your body needs enough leucine levels to kick that muscle-building process back into gear. This will help you increase strength, repair and gain muscle after intense workouts, build more lean mass, and boost your metabolism to burn significant amounts of body fat.
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Whey Fills you Up!
Do you ever get frustrated at how quickly your hunger reappears after your last meal? While we know that protein is the most satiating (or filling) nutrient out there, different protein sources have different effects on hunger and appetite.
Whey has shows some especially satiating (or filling) ability. Multiple studies show that more people report feeling fuller after a meal with whey than other proteins, including casein.
This makes whey useful if you’re trying to shed some pounds, cut back on calories, or curb your cravings.
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Whey – A protein with prebiotics
Like all living things, the friendly bacteria that live in the gut (or probiotics) need to be nourished, too. That could be an overwhelming ordeal considering the colon can house up to 100 trillion bacteria.
That’s where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut to keep them alive and healthy. Lactose, sialic acids, lactoferrin, and other carbohydrates derived from whey feed these important gut bacteria, such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. When your gut bacteria are healthy, your body is better able to overcome infections and maintain strong immunity.
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The Whey to a Healthier Heart
Whey can normalize blood pressure, especially in those at risk of high blood pressure such as obese or overweight individuals. It can also help maintain healthy levels of blood pressure in already healthy people. It works much like common high blood pressure drugs, such as ACE inhibitors.
Research shows that whey may also help improve other risk factors for heart disease- triglyceride levels, inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein, and cholesterol (HDL vs LDL and total).
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Whey to Build a Stronger Immunity
Your immunity lends you the ability to avoid many different types of illnesses and disease. Although whey works in countless ways to strengthen immunity, one is worth emphasizing.
Whey protein can house up to 4 times for cysteine (an amino acid) than any other high-quality protein. What does cysteine have to do with your immunity?
Cysteine is used to maintain one of your bodies top defenses to protect your cells against oxidative stress caused by exposure to toxins, pollution, UV rays, or even the normal oxidation caused by exercise. This defense is called the glutathione antioxidant system.
For a more intense immune response to health threats, whey protein may help.
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Protection against Cancer
If there’s a reason, in addition to building muscle, that you should include whey protein in your diet, it may be this one. Whey protein may help protect against cancer risk.
It may help shrink cancer tumors or reduce their number. In animal studies, whey has shown tumor-reducing effects in breast and colon cancer tumors.
Going back to one of our main defenses against disease, the glutathione antioxidant system, it appears that whey replenishes glutathione levels to cancer-protecting levels to keep this antioxidant system going.
Just as not all protein is equal, not all whey protein is created equal. What type do you use?
Whey protein isolate is the highest-quality whey protein out there, with a concentration of 90% protein or higher.
The best whey protein powder should come from pasture fed cows – that is, cows not fed GMO. Also, avoid whey products that are sweetened with artificial sweeteners. It may take some digging since the market is brimming with them.
This whey protein isolate is an all-natural purely whey protein isolate powder (not mixed with any whey protein concentrate). It contains no lactose, fat, or cholesterol.
It comes from milk from grass-fed cows not treated with any hormones or antibiotics. It’s 100% non-GMO, soy-free, and gluten free.
References
- J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136 no. 2 533S-537S
- British Journal of Nutrition, 89, pp 239-248
- Journal of Nutrition 134(11):3011-5.
- Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 1999; 38(1):13-126.