Bodybuilders are already sold on whey. It’s just a no-brainer that you need to eat a high-quality protein blend, and whey provides some of the best protein out there. But not all whey supplements are the same, far from it.
Most of the whey supplements you’ll find come in two types: whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate. What is the difference between the two?
Whey isolate contains at least 90% protein with a small amount of fat and lactose.
It is considered by many to be the highest quality source possible. It is the protein that your body can absorb most quickly and efficiently. Many scientists also think that because whey isolate is less refined, it has more anti-cancer properties.
The downside is that whey isolate is also more expensive than comparable sources. In other words, you build your muscles faster but reduce your wallet.
Whey protein concentrate is another type of commonly available whey source. The protein percentage here really varies, between 40% and 89% protein, with a corresponding increase in fat and lactose. To be honest though, a protein supplement that claims to be whey but is only 40% real protein will be rubbish. Avoid one that low.
It does get more complicated though.
Many whey protein powders are a mix of the two. They will contain some whey protein isolate mixed with a large amount of whey protein concentrate. To make it even more confusing, the product really can have any name and you have to search to find out what it actually contains.
For many people, a high percentage of protein from whey concentrate is fine. You don’t want to ingest a specific source exclusively, so a slight touch of purity will be fine. Modern whey concentrates at the higher end of protein content are a good deal.
On the other hand, if you’re looking to make your own specialty blends of protein sources, a whey isolate would be a good place to start. It will contain very little base fat and lactose, and can be “reduced” later with the addition of egg, soy, or casein.