What Is Whey Protein And Who Should Drink It?

For decades, whey has only been a by-product of cheese production. However, this raw material is today an important ingredient for some additives, and is also the basis for the famous whey protein hooks. In this article you can learn all about the properties of this food and who should consume it to take advantage of its medicinal properties.

What is whey?

Sweet whey is the liquid by-product of cheese or casein production. It has a yellow-green color, a cloudy appearance and tastes a little sweet. Also, it consists mostly of water and has a small amount of protein and fat.

Whey is rich in vitamins A, B and C, and minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. It is important to emphasize that it contains lactose.

Whey protein

An increasingly popular dietary product consisting of proteins with high biological value is extracted from whey. It is known as whey protein, and as mentioned above , it contains all the essential amino acids, which are the ones that the body absorbs best.

This milk drink, which is usually sold as a powder and combined with other ingredients, is very common among athletes due to its good properties.

The properties of whey protein

Here are the main health benefits of whey protein:

• Increases strength, endurance, muscle mass and recovery after exercise. This is why an increasing number of athletes are drinking it. In addition, it is more digestible than other animal protein alternatives.
• Helps prevent age-related muscle loss, known as sarcopenia.
• Helps reduce body fat from building up, especially around the abdomen.
• Reduces inflammation.
• Has anti-cancer properties.
• Strengthens the immune system
• Lowers blood sugar levels and cravings for sweets. Also prevents type 2 diabetes.
• Lowers triglyceride levels in the blood.
• Fights hypertension.
• Lowers stress.

How to drink it

It is a good idea to follow the suggestions of some trainers to drink more whey protein shakes a day or use as a substitute for a meal.

You should take this natural product as a supplement to strengthen your workout or drink it occasionally. It can also be a good breakfast when combined with other ingredients, such as fruit, nuts, oatmeal, extra virgin coconut oil, etc. It tastes quite delicious when combined with banana, cocoa, cinnamon, natural vanilla, red berries or tropical fruits.

How to choose protein

To obtain whey protein, whey must undergo a certain transformation process that you should know about since there are many different brands and qualities. You need to choose the most effective, but also the one that will be most beneficial to your health:

• Whey protein isolate : Obtained by removing fat and lactose. It also has a lot of protein. However, this variant is not recommended because acids are used during the process, and it also heats up at high temperatures, so it loses many of its properties. Also, it is usually more expensive because it is a processed product.
• Whey protein concentrate : This product is obtained before the said isolated process. It contains certain amounts of fat and lactose, and less protein. However, it is more natural and balanced.

• Organic quality : In addition to choosing the concentrated option, it is a good idea to choose an organic product. This way you will be sure that the cows that were used to produce it were fed without pesticides or herbicides. The resulting product is also richer in nutrients.
• Other ingredients : When choosing a brand, read the label to ensure that the other ingredients are also of good quality. You should avoid those that contain sugar, sweeteners and artificial colors or flavors. The best sweetener for your smoothie is stevia, and the flavors should be natural extracts.