What is Whey Protein and Why Should I Take It

July 24 2014

What is Whey Protein and Why Should I Take It?

If you’re looking to build muscle, you should supplement your diet with whey protein. Chances are you’ve heard of this protein before; it’s commonly found in drinks, powders and snack bars. Athletes and professional bodybuilders swear by this stuff, but how exactly does it translate into more muscle growth?

Cow’s milk contains two primary forms of protein: casein and whey. Casein is a thicker type of protein that digests more slowly, whereas whey is fast-acting and begins working within minutes of consumption. Studies have shown both types of protein to offer numerous health benefits, including increased muscle gains and lower recovery times, but whey has the slight edge to its fact-acting properties.

How Whey Protein Is Produced

Whey protein is produced as a byproduct of cheese. When cheese is made, a layer of liquid material forms on the surface. This liquid is extracted and left to dry, which essentially turns to crude whey powder. The powder is then processed and sold as protein powder to us in drinks, beverages, snack bars, or other products.

Benefits of Taking a Whey Protein Supplement

To understand the muscle-building benefits of whey protein, you must first understand the physiological changes that occur to the body during strength training.

When you’re hitting the weights at the gym, small tears develop in your muscle fibers. You may not feel it at first, but the following day you’ll probably feel sore – the result of thousands of tiny tears in your muscles. The body undergoes a process known as muscle protein synthesis to repair the damaged muscle fibers, relying on amino acids from dietary protein. Whey protein supplies your body with a healthy dose of amino acids to reduce muscle recovery times and encourage larger “regrowth.”

In addition to its muscle-building benefits, whey protein may also help individuals burn more calories. According to a study published in the Medicine and Science In Sports & Exercise, taking just a single scoop of whey protein powder immediately before working out caused participants to burn more calories over a 24-hour period.

Whey Protein Tips

Since whey protein digests incredibly fast, it’s recommended that individuals take it immediately before working out to achieve the greatest benefit. Mixing 1-2 scoops of pure whey protein powder in either a glass of water of skim milk is an excellent pre-workout beverage that will boost your energy levels, provide vital amino acids to your muscles, and possibly even help you burn more calories.

Check out the whey protein powder deals offered at MuscleIntensity.com!