The Athlete

Whey Protein: Whey Not?

Whey protein is a hot topic is sports nutrition circles. Whey protein (also known as "lactalbumin") supplements, in recent years, have become extremely popular amongst bodybuilders and athletes of all kinds. Many proponents of whey protein claim that of all the protein supplements, whey is the best. Whey protein comes from milk. There are two different kinds of proteins in milk; casein and whey proteins. Whey protein is created during a process where milk is turned into cheese and the liquid is removed from the whey protein. It has less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving and only 5 milligrams of cholesterol. Whey protein is a soluble, which means that it is very easy to digest, and it is often mixed with a milk-based shake. It quickly enters the body and provides the important essential amino acids needed to nourish muscles and other vital body tissues.

Because protein levels are diminished after a lengthy workout or any other sporting activity, the body needs its protein levels topped up. One way to do this is by taking whey protein immediately following strenuous workouts. The body, and muscles in particular, uses and metabolizes protein much more efficiently than carbohydrates. Whey protein helps build muscles, enhance performance, and reduce naturally occurring muscle deterioration.

But whey protein supplements have several other advantages as well. They help maintain healthy weight levels, improve cardiovascular health, may reduce the chances of getting some types of cancers and diabetes. Whey protein supplements are good because you can't get enough whey protein from milk by itself. Milk is very nutritious beverage but, only about 1% of it contains whey protein. In order to get all the benefits of whey protein, you need to take a concentrated whey protein supplements, like whey protein powder.

Because whey protein is essential to the process of building muscles and creating essential amino acids, high quality whey protein will help one's muscles recover and grow faster by bring up the levels of protein. With dieting and those wishing to lose some extra fat, whey protein can be very useful because a good intake of protein balances blood sugar levels, while carbohydrates can often cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate.

While the health concerns of taking why proteins are apparently minimal, you should consult your doctor or a registered dietician if you have any concerns. Also, there are a lot of different companies on the market that manufacture whey protein. Shop around and do a bit of research before you choose one. And it's important to remember not to believe everything you read in advertisements. Whey protein supplements are just that; supplements. They will not in and of themselves help you lose weight or enhance your performance, but combined with a regimented training plan and a balanced diet, they can help.