Whey Protein
Proteins are an essential part of the human diet because they are vital for the body’s metabolism as well as the cellular processes. For years nutritionists, fitness experts and diet creators have been toting the benefits of protein within our diet.
Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough protein in their diet which can cause limitations on how the body functions and its ability to produce energy. This lack of protein is due to the increase in consumption of carbohydrates, which are essential to health as well but in abundance can lead to obesity and in the long run diseases. Although protein is normally consumed through the ingestion of meat, poultry, fish, legumes, eggs and milk products in recent years a new supplement advertising whey protein has caught the interest of bodybuilders, nutritionists and people who want to lose weight.
Protein is made up of amino acids, joined together in a linear chain. Once in the body these amino acids are used for several functions. Metabolism, production of new proteins to replace damaged proteins, enzymes for catalysts, structural and mechanical functions within muscles, cell signaling, immune response, cell adhesion, and cell cycle are just a few of the ways that proteins and amino acids are used throughout the body. Some of the amino acids can be synthesized within the body however others must be obtained through our diet. Ten out of the twenty amino acids are essential to our health and without them you can see how the functioning within the body can diminish.
whey protein is a collection of globular proteins that is extracted from whey. When cheese is manufactured from cow’s milk, whey is the by-product. Whey contains a mixture of lactose in water, minerals and lactalbumin. The fat is extracted to leave whey protein. Whey protein naturally becomes bioactive when introduced to the body. Bioactive proteins are capable of functioning more efficiently due to their increased number of amino acids when introduced in vivo.
Whey protein has three separate forms: concentrate, isolate and hydrolysate. Concentrate whey protein contains a low level of fat and cholesterol. Additionally, this type of whey protein contains the highest level of bioactive compounds, however, it also contains lactose. Isolates are processed to remove the fat and lactose, which results in less bioactive compounds. However, isolate whey protein is better for people who are allergic to milk. Even more so, hydrolysate whey protein causes less allergic reactions. This is due to hydrolysates being predigested and partially hydrolyzed. Hydrolysates are more easily absorbed within the body.
