Confused about protein powder? Unsure what it is, why it’s used and how it could benefit you? These are all common concerns for those new to the diverse world of sports supplements.
The first step is to understand what exactly whey protein is before you can understand if and how it can help you achieve results.
What is whey protein?
Whey is a component of dairy milk. Milk is comprised of two proteins: 80% casein and 20% whey. Whey is separated out during the manufacturing of cheese from dairy milk. Whey is then filtered, purified and dried to form whey powder.
Whey powder is low in lactose and contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein source, whilst retaining essential vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin B12.
The most common use for whey protein is supplementation in the diet to ensure adequate protein intake, to improve muscle protein synthesis maximising lean muscle gains, and for weight loss success.
There are three main types of whey protein:
Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) contains low levels of fat and carbohydrate in the form of lactose. The percentage of protein within WPC ultimately depends on its concentration and if there are other ingredients added. True WPC80 has 80% protein content, making it a perfect ‘all-rounder’ protein that tastes great.
Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) is created from further processing of whey that strips away all fat and lactose. True WPI90 is one of the cleanest protein supplements available with a 90% protein content.
Whey Protein Hydrolysate (WPH) is a specific protein that doesn’t require as much digestion as WPC. It is frequently used within medical protein supplements or infant formulas. However, it often has a bitter taste requiring many other ingredients to sweeten and mask its natural flavour.
When should I have my protein powder?
The optimal time to consume protein powder will depend on your training, eating habits and goals.
Post-workout
Most importantly, consuming protein right after training will ensure your hard-working muscles can recover and adapt. This could be in the form of increased muscle mass, increased strength or decreased muscle soreness and fatigue.
On-the-go
A sit-down meal isn’t always possible with our busy lifestyles. A protein shake is the ultimate convenient solution for an on-the-go healthy snack, particularly when our protein intake is frequently low mid-morning or in the afternoon.
Before bed
Consuming protein before bed is another prime time to optimise your nutrition. If you’re exercising regularly then you need to ensure your body recovers properly. Depending on the type of exercise, the recovery phase can extend up to 48 hours post-workout. Consuming protein prior to bedtime will help to prevent your body shifting into catabolism, which is the breakdown of muscle to be utilised as energy, undoing all that hard work!
True Night85 is specifically formulated as a pre-sleep supplement due its slow release of amino acids (the building blocks of protein) to ensure you’re feeding your muscles during your (optimal) eight hours of sleep.
How do I choose a whey protein that’s right for me?
Check the ingredients
Most of the protein powders available on the market consist of a blend of protein, additives, sweeteners and other unnecessary ingredients. Be sure to check the ingredient list on any protein powder before you consume it.
A long list of strange and confusing ingredients and numbers is generally a warning sign, particularly if it says ‘proprietary blend’, which means the manufacturer doesn’t have to disclose the amounts of the blended ingredients. This often means you will be ingesting mostly the cheapest ingredient with only a whisper of the ingredient you actually need.
All of True Protein’s ingredients are pure, simple and natural. There are no additives, fillers, artificial flavours or artificial sweeteners. All True Whey Proteins are from New Zealand grass-fed cows. For flavouring, True Protein uses the best quality raw ingredients and 100% natural flavourings and sweeteners to ensure a superior final taste. Simply read True Protein’s labels to see for yourself!
Key message
The Gym Melbourne is proudly affiliated with TRUE & we stock a variety of products including WPI90. if you would like to know more come see us at reception!!!