As our New Year’s resolution gets closer, many of us have to lose weight or start going to the gym as one of our goals. A popular topic delving into the gym is supplements, especially for protein, which we will be tackling today. So, get into the most definite protein supplement: whey protein powder!

What is whey?

So, what is whey? Whey starts out as milk that is to be processed for cheese making. While the cheese curdles and is taken out, the remaining water is to be harvested and is called whey. The water is of yellow color and cloudy, which is then made to be concentrated. Although it is a by-product of cheese making, it contains a lot of protein and enzymes, which is perfect for protein consumption. This concentrated whey is then processed, depending on which type of protein powder to produce, and turned into fine powder by dehydration and fine blending.

Why whey protein?

Although a by-product, it is packed with protein and is easy to consume to meet your protein goals. For example, chicken breasts without skin are regarded as one of the best proteins to consume in terms of calories. And it is cheaper than other cuts of protein, which is why one of the staples of bodybuilding was chicken, broccoli, and rice. The nutrition facts for chicken is:

It does boast great protein per gram and calorie, but for those who seek convenience and with a smaller stomach, eating too much chicken breast isn’t ideal and would not be a pleasurable experience trying to consume. So, instead of eating chicken, whey can help instead with the same protein amount. The nutritional facts for whey protein:

With about 50 g of whey powder, it contains more than 100 g of skinless chicken breast, which helps for easier consumption. The only downside is that for an equal mass of 100 gm, they will have more calories, but this can be adjusted by tempering with your diet for the day.

Types of whey

Knowing that is a byproduct of cheese, there are people with lactose intolerance who will look for alternatives or maybe avoid whey as is. But there are different types of whey that even lactose-intolerant people can consume without hurting their stomachs. Let’s look at the different types of whey available to the public:

Whey Protein Concentrate: This is the base commercialized whey protein where it is almost universally found. It does have a lower cost than other types of protein, but let’s look into their nutritional composition as well. 

Whey Protein Isolate: This product is under additional processing to remove the fat and lactose, which benefits many lactose-intolerant people. Let’s look into their composition:

Whey Protein Hydrolysate: This form of whey has its protein broken down even more, or called “digested”, which helps for better digestion of protein. Let’s look into its composition:

Which might be suitable for you?

Let’s look into the pros and cons and see which one will fit your goal.

Whey Protein Concentrate:

Whey Protein Isolate:

Whey Protein Hydrolysate:

If you are a general gym-goer indeed for more protein, the standard whey protein concentrate will be the best for you. Although looking at the severity of lactose intolerance, it might not be the best option.

If you’re lactose intolerant or even get frequently hungry, the low lactose and slow-absorbing whey protein isolate might be the one for you, but with a slightly higher price tag.

For athletes and avid bodybuilders and the like, the whey protein hydrolysate might be the best for you. The fast absorption of the protein might benefit you the best for post-workouts or training.

With this, we hope that you have selected the whey protein for you and your growth. Happy lifting!