Whey protein is the most popular protein type in powder form for bodybuilders due to it’s high absorption and cheap price. There is also many benefits to whey protein that is unique to it.

About Whey Protein:

Whey Protein (Lactalbumin) is the name of a protein type that actually consists of smaller subfractions of peptide chains such as Beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, immunoglobulins (IgGs), bovine serum albumin (BSA),lactoferrin, and more. Whey Protein comes from Dairy milk.

Whey protein is a by-product of cheese production. The liquid that is formed during cheese production is dried and concentrated into whey protein powder.

Whey Protein and Muscle gains:

Whey protein absorbs easier into the body then any other protein. Blood levels have shown to hit peak after 45 minutes of ingestion by itself and severeley taper off after 2 hours. Unfortunately, fast absorption is not ideal for maximum muscle gains. Slow and steady release found from whole food protein sources or casein protein is ideal. Whey Protein is most ideal for pre and post workout shakes.

Whey Protein for health:

In studies it was found to prevent or reduce tumours. Whey protein anti-tumour effects are more powerful then Soy and other proteins. Whey protein was found to deplete cancer cells of glutathione (GSH) making them less likely to be resistant to chemotherapy. Depletion of tumor GSH in vivo decreases the rate of cellular proliferation and inhibits cancer growth. Whey’s important effect on GSH is more then just cancer too. GSH also plays a role as the bodies detoxifier and cellular protectant against toxins and carcinogens. Reduced GSH in the body has been tied to Parkinsons’s disease and Alzheimers and AIDS.

Whey protein seems to be the only animal protein that is anti-atherogenic. In other words it prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Oxidation of LDL cholesterol is what leads to atherogenesis, the formation of plaque and lesions associated with atherosclerosis.

Whey protein was also found to increase bone growth and health.

Whey protein is a powerful immune-enahcing protein. Animals fed whey protein had significant improvement against salmonella, streptococcus pneumonia 9 and very toxic cancer-causing chemicals. This effect on immunity was not seen with other proteins.

Types of of Whey Protein:

Whey protein concentrate is roughly 80% protein by weight. Many people believe that protein concetrate is inferior to protein isolate, because the isolate contains a higher amount of protein per amount of powder. This is not true, because many of the subfractions found in whey protein are eliminated when making whey protein isolate powder. Whey protein concentrate is not for everyone due to the higher lactose levels.

Most good concentrates contain much higher levels of growth factors, such as IGF-1. They also contain much higher levels of phospholipids, Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), and immunoglobulins and lactoferrin. Some of these compounds will help with muscle gains such as CLA, and others will provide the powerful health effects in Whey.

Ion-Exchange:

Whey protein as the result of being run through an ion exchange column. It creates a very high concentration of protein, but at the cost of filtering out many important bioactive peptide subfractions.

Micro-Filtered Isolates:

A class of filterations including Cross Flow Micro filtration (CFM®) ultra filtration (UF), micro filtration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), dynamic membrane filtration (DMF), ion exchange chromatography, (IEC), electro-ultrafiltration (EU), radial flow chromatography (RFC) and nano filtration (NF). CFM® is the most common of all of these. The CFM process allows for very high protein content (more then 90%) while keeping all the precious subfractions natural to whey. CMF also eliminates most lactose, fat, and sodium.

Best Whey Protein Type:

A good quality whey concentrate or Micro-filtered protein is the best. They both will contain all the precious subfractions vital to the special properties of whey protein. CMF would be the best of the two for purity, for having less lactose,fat, and sodium.

Side effects of Whey Protein:

There is no research supporting any long term hazards to your kidneys if you have no current kidney ailments. Drinking plenty of water is ideal on high protein diets to keep your kidneys flushed. Researchers don’t recommend more then 2 grams per kilogram of bodyweight. Whey protein like all proteins increases your risk of dehydration so you will need more water in your diet. Large amounts of protein in the diet is a risk for bone loss as protein takes out calcium from the body. Luckily whey protein contains significant amounts of calcium in the body.