Protein FAQ
There is an enormous amount of talk about Whey as a protein source in body building circles, and this in turn has generated many questions.
Q: Why do body builders need to take protein supplements if they are eating a lot of protein rich food sources such as eggs, milk and lean meats?
A: Put simply a body builder needs a huge amount of protein to add muscle. The very act of doing the exercise required to trigger muscular growth can be enough to ‘burn’ away your hard earned gains. This is the catabolic process, or muscle wastage, rather than the much sought after anabolic process. Even digesting protein take sup time and energy, plus with most food sources you will be getting a lot of what you don’t want such as ‘bad’ fats and lactose. Whey protein Isolates are a highly concentrated form of protein with little lactose or ‘bad’ fats left in, and because it is easily digestible it gets to your muscles quickly with very little of the ‘downtime’ required for a full meal.
Q: If whey comes from milk isn’t it full of fats and lactose?
A: The extraction process used to make whey has become increasingly sophisticated and these days almost all the ‘bad’ fats and lactose can be removed, leaving only the massively concentrated protein source, rich in all the amino acids your body needs to add muscle.
Q: If whey digests quickly, what can I do to ensure I am getting plenty of protein all the time?
A: Whey does digest quickly, delivering a blast of protein to your hungry muscles when you need it most. Many formulations now combine it with other, slower digesting protein sources, such as casein to ensure you get an even and sustained release of protein over a longer period of time. You can check that a supplement does this, or you can take a separate supplement – it’s up to you.
Q: What is the difference between whey isolate and whey concentrate?
A: The difference is one of quality. Whey isolate is a highly concentrated and pure form of whey, whilst products labeled as a concentrate may contain less pure whey extracts and may have higher levels of the ‘bad’ fats and lactose that you don’t want too much of. Whey isolate is made from a very advanced extraction process, that delivers exactly the amino acid blends required to optimize muscle growth.
Q: What is protein and why is it important?
A: Protein is an organic compound made up of a linear chain of amino acids. There are some twenty amino acids in the human body or which some are considered essential, but all contribute to good health. In very simple terms protein is the ‘building blocks’ of muscle tissue and hence if you do not have enough, muscle can not be built. It also plays a role in strength and muscle recovery, and if you are not getting more than is being used you will wind up in a catabolic state and experience muscle loss and not gains. Hence it is vital to be providing the body with all the protein it needs.
Q: Is whey the only protein source body builders use?
A: Not at all. Body builders have a diet that is naturally high in protein derived from fresh natural food sources such as meat, nuts, vegetables and dairy. They use supplements to help support the kinds of massive muscle increases that set them apart from the crowd and in so doing often use readily digestible sources such as whey, which is extracted from milk. Casein is also extracted from milk but takes longer to digest, making it an ideal ‘slow release’ protein. There’s extracts of egg as well, which can be highly concentrated and has proven popular. But whey is highly sought after because it can deliver pure protein without unwanted fats and lactose, very efficiently. It should never take the place of a well balanced diet, but should be used in conjunction.
Q: How do you take whey?
A: Whey comes in a powered form and can be mixed into a drink or sprinkled on food. Usually it is taken as a shake.
Q: How often do you need to take whey?
A: Whey digests quickly and your body can not store it, so you need to take it daily and many have several whey supplements a day to ensure their muscles are getting the nutrients they need to support growth.