Whey Protein

Whey Protein is probably the most popular ingredient in supplements today

Origin
Whey Protein is derived from cheese as a by-product.

Types
Whey protein is usually available in three different types whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate and whey protein hydrolysate.

Advantages

• Highest Biological Value (BV) of all proteins.
• Rapid digestion and absorption into the body.

Disadvantages

• Rapid Digestion can also be seen as a disadvantage (see below)

The Bigger Picture

Whey protein can facilitate faster recovery and lead to bigger gains in muscle along with good diet and exercise . To expand on the disadvantage given above, researchers have suggested that after workouts because whey is digested so quickly, when it is absorbed into the blood stream it goes straight to the liver where it is actually metabolized to give the body the energy it needs. This is a fair conclusion to draw, however that doesn't mean that taking whey protein right after a workout is a waste of time, it just means you have to complement whey protein with simple sugars (also vitamins would help) to create an insulin spike and put the body in an anabolic state. By taking the simple sugars the body gets a chance to have a source of energy, replenish its glycogen stores and release insulin which essentially halts any catabolic effects a workout may have (loss of muscle). Insulin facilitates delivery of sugars as well as amino acids to cells, so when the protein has been digested it is ready to be assimilated into muscle tissue instead of being used as an energy source.