Whey protein isolate

Whey protein is a naturally occurring source of protein found in milk, which has the highest biological value of all naturally occurring protein sources with a value of over 100. In addition to this, whey protein has the decisive advantage that it is also one of the fastest digestible proteins, providing your body and muscles with large amounts of urgently needed amino acids very quickly after consumption. Whey protein isolate differs from cheaper whey protein concentrate in that it has a significantly higher protein content, which can exceed 90 grams of protein per 100 grams of protein powder, which corresponds to a protein content of over 90%. At the same time, in contrast to whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate is very low in carbohydrates and fat and there are even products that are practically completely free of fat and carbohydrates.

Are there different types of whey protein isolate?

When it comes to whey protein isolate available in the form of protein supplements, a distinction is made between ion-exchanged and microfiltered whey protein isolate. Ion-exchanged whey protein isolate is produced using chemical processes that denature the so-called protein microfractions that make up whey protein. Microfiltered whey protein isolate, on the other hand, is produced exclusively with the aid of physical processes and without high heat, which means that the protein components it contains are not denatured. What implications does this have for you as a user? If you are only interested in the amount of protein, these two isolate variants do not differ significantly. But the pure protein content is not everything. Many of the protein microfractions and growth factors contained in whey protein, such as alpha-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptides, beta-lactoglobulin, immunoglobulin G (IgG), lactoferrin, serum albumin, isozyme and lactoperoxidase, as well as IGF-1, TGF-1 and TGF-2, have numerous health benefits and positive effects on the function of the immune system. In addition, these protein components can increase physical performance and reduce catabolic cortisol levels. All these benefits are lost in the production of ion-exchanged whey protein isolate, which is why microfiltered whey protein isolate is the better choice for health-conscious and performance-oriented athletes and bodybuilders.

Who is whey protein isolate particularly suitable for?

In principle, all athletes who need a quickly digestible protein can benefit from the advantages of whey protein isolate. Due to its very high protein content and its very low carbohydrate, fat and lactose content, this protein is the whey protein of choice for most bodybuilders during diet and competition preparation. As the lactose contained in virtually all dairy products can promote unwanted water retention, the very low lactose content of whey protein isolate makes it very popular with all bodybuilders who value a hard muscular appearance. Even people who suffer from lactose intolerance and have to avoid dairy products and whey protein concentrate often do well with a certain amount of whey protein isolate.

What are the best times to take whey protein isolate?

• Taken before training, whey protein isolate protects against catabolic muscle breakdown caused by training.
• Taken after training, whey protein isolate stimulates rapid muscle building due to its high content of branched-chain amino acids(BCAAs) and essential amino acids(EAAs) and promotes muscle regeneration due to its high glutamine content.
• Taken in the morning after getting up, Whey Protein Isolate quickly supplies the body with urgently needed amino acids after the overnight fasting phase.

What are the main benefits of whey protein isolate?

• Very rapid digestion and rapid supply of large quantities of amino acids to the muscles
• Significantly higher protein content than whey protein concentrate
• Lower fat and carbohydrate content than whey protein concentrate
• Due to the minimal amount of lactose in limited quantities, also suitable for people who suffer from lactose intolerance
• Does not promote water retention and is therefore also suitable for competition preparation