WHY WHEY????
Whats Whey protein? Ever wondered…..
Whey is the liquid which is left behind after milk is strained and curdled, a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process.
Protein comes from the Greek word proteios, which means the first one or something of prime importance. Typically, a healthy human body has roughly 62% of water, 16% of protein the same amount of fat and 6% of minerals. All the rest is in small amounts, including vitamins and other substances.
Athletes, bodybuilders, and wrestlers all love Protein as it provides some of the essential nutrients that the body needs to grow. Like water, protein is also very important to maintain a healthy physique. So shouldn’t we know more about them?. Here are some interesting facts about protein.
1) Whey protein is a complete protein
What is a complete protein you may ask? Whey protein is considered a high quality, complete protein because it contains all 9 essential amino acids, including the 3 branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine.
These branched-chain amino acids are desirable for athletes because they can be oxidized during exercise.
2) Whey protein has a high BV value and PDCAAS
The two best ways to determine a protein sources quality and effectiveness, is to measure its biological value (BV) and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS).
A protein’s biological score measures the degree to which an animal is capable of utilizing a protein and a PDCAAS is a number between 0 and 1 that evaluates a protein based on its amino acid content.
In short, the higher the BV and PDCAAS is, the more effective the protein.
Whey protein is at the top of the list for both BV and PDCAAS, putting it above other protein giants like eggs, chicken and soy.
3) Whey protein foods
While ingesting whey protein powder is definitely fast and convenient, pre and post workout, whey protein can be found naturally in other foods as well.
For a good dose of whey protein, eat:
- Ricotta cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Dairy butter and cream
- Yogurt and
- Baked goods that use whey protein during preparation
4) Whey protein has a positive effect on the body
Even though whey protein is primarily taken to develop muscle and in turn, burn fat, whey protein can have other positive effects on the body.
Introducing whey protein into your diet may help you to avoid digestive problems in the future. The lactose in whey protein will turn into galacto-oliyosaccharides which are then used by intestinal bacteria. Once this occurs, the intestinal bacteria will be better able to break down food, aiding you in digestion.
Whey protein can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels, which helps to prevent diabetes, and consuming whey protein has even been connected to depression prevention due to the fact that it aids in the release of serotonin (a calming neurotransmitter).
5) Avoid certain combinations
Although whey protein benefits are numerous and positive overall, there are times when whey protein should be avoided.
Whey protein should not be taken with Levodopa (prescribed to treat Parkinson’s) for the protein can decrease the amount of Levodopa absorbed in the body.
You should also avoid whey protein if you are taking Alendronate (Formax), used to treat osteoporosis and other bone diseases, as well as Quinolone and Tetracycline antibiotics, for the protein could possibly decrease the amount absorbed.
Consider Pure Whey Protein
As whey protein supplements continues to gain popularity, with more and more brands popping up on shelves, whey protein research will continue to be priority in order to provide consumers with the best possible product.
So whether you’re a body builder, an athlete or simply someone who wants to introduce more protein into their diets to go along with a fitness regime, consider adding whey protein supplement after your workouts.
A fast and easily digestible protein supplement, whey protein powder can be mixed into drinks, sprinkled on cereal or even baked into power bars to provide you with a boost of protein whenever you need it.