It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for weight loss tips, to build muscle or just be healthier; protein is an essential nutrient to life. The fact is, the average person is not getting enough quality protein in their daily diet. Protein powder supplements are a great way to get that high quality protein into your diet. Protein comes from a number of sources such as; dairy, nuts, beans, fish, eggs and meat. Nearly all of these sources can be refined into a powder form of protein.
The two major types of protein supplements are whey and soy. Whey protein powder is a refined form of the whey that is separated from milk curd in the cheese making process. Remember Little Miss Muffet who was eating her curds and whey? She was just getting her daily dose of protein.
When you walk into a supplement store the majority of protein you see will be whey protein in one form or another. This is because whey protein powder is the best and highest quality form of protein available. Whey contains the most BCAA’s (branched chain amino acids) among all sources of powder protein. These BCAA’s help build muscles as well as helping your body to retain it. Whey protein also supports your immune system as an antioxidant. One of the key amino acids found in whey protein is Glutamine or L-glutamine. In simple terms glutamine aids in the anabolic process, something I discuss often.
There are two basic types of whey protein; isolate and concentrate. To be classified as an isolate it the powder be 90% whey protein or higher which makes isolate the purest form of the powder protein you can get. Concentrate whey contains fat, cholesterol, and lactose, not that any of this is bad for you it is just not as refined as isolate. Some proteins may not be labeled “isolate” but you can look at the supplement facts label and check the cholesterol, the lower the number the more refined. When the cholesterol is low this means that your body can absorb it and put it to use faster than whey concentrate or even higher cholesterol isolate, so check those labels.
Soy protein powder is also available in isolate and concentrate forms. However it is second only to peanuts for food allergies, obviously that poses a problem for many people. Soy protein is very low or, in some cases, nonexistent in lactose, cholesterol and fat, making it very popular among those with lactose intolerance issues. Given the animal background of whey protein, soy is a great source of non-animal protein for vegetarians. Though it is a great source of protein most experts agree, compared to whey protein, soy just isn’t the best for muscle building.
Regardless of whether you choose, concentrate, isolate, soy or whey, protein is one of the most important supplements you can take when you’re working on losing weight. Don’t get caught up in the thinking that it’s only for body builders. If your body isn’t getting enough protein, you will have a very difficult time losing the weight you want to lose. Most people can not consume the amount of food they need to get the protein their body demands. Strongly consider supplementing with some sort of protein powder. One of my favorite ways to get my daily dose of protein is with One of the Best Protein Shakes Ever.
Even children should take some form of protein supplement. I wish I knew the value of protein when I was younger. Especially during exams in high school.