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Ivan's Newsletter
December 24th, 2007 -- Issue 039
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IIn this issue...

** What to look for when buying whey protein

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What to look for when buying whey protein
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It's been a while since I started working as a health enthusiast at the Vitamin Shoppe - one of the best supplied sports nutrition and supplements store chain.

During the many hours that I have already logged in there, I noticed something very interesting..., but not surprising.

Do you want to know what it is?

People ask for and ultimately buy what they see advertised in magazines. In other words companies that heavily advertise their whey protein products sell a lot - regardless of whether their product is good or not.

(Most of the time it is not!)

Some, which really have awesome whey protein blends hardly ever sell any.

Any way, those who haven't been heavily exposed to advertisements, come to the store and usually ask "What's the best whey protein?"

When I take a few minutes to explain how they can recognize a good protein supplement from a bad one, people usually completely abandon what they've been buying up until that moment.

So, do you know what to look for when buying whey protein supplement?

First, a few paragraphs about the different types of whey proteins.

Based on the method of deriving whey proteins are:

* Whey protein concentrate (WPC)

* Hydrolyzed whey protein

* Whey protein isolate (WPI)

WPI's are further divided in to ion-exchange and microfiltered (ultrafiltered) whey.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) is a low-grade protein. It contains anywhere between 35 - 85% whey. It also contains different amounts of lactose, fat and cholesterol.

WPC, which is available on the market in the form of sports nutrition supplement, is usually denatured meaning its own very beneficial peptide fractions like alpha lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, glycomacropeptide, immunoglobulins, serum albumin, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase are destroyed.

What's left is a protein with not too many nutritional benefits and with relatively high levels of oxidized cholesterol - a potentially harmful substance.

WPC is the cheapest of all whey proteins to manufacture.

Hydrolyzed whey protein is a partially pre-digested protein. That means many of its longer chain protein structures are broken down to shorter, more readily digestible structures. The level of pre-digestion vary.

What's interesting with hydrolyzed whey is, depending on the level of pre-digestion, its amino acids could be very close to the form the body doesn't need to further break down and can use right away.

You may say "That's good", but I will say "Not really".

See, one of the most abundant amino acid in whey is Glutamic acid aka Glutamate. This amino acid is know to be an excitotoxin. In other words it can overstimulate some parts of the brain and can cause brain damage.

If you know what MSG is and you are trying to avoid it, then you know what I'm talking about.

Hydrolyzed whey protein can deliver large amount of this amino acid, which the body is forced to use.

Ion-exchange whey protein is a protein with very low lactose, fat and cholesterol levels. It is derived by separating the pure whey from the unwanted stuff through electrical charge.

This process, though, involves great changes in the acidity (pH) levels, and this actually destroys most of the native to whey delicate protein fractions.

In other words this protein, although very high in pure protein (more than 90%) and very low on everything else you don't want in your protein supplement, is denatured, too.

Microfiltered whey protein is also very high in pure whey (more than 90%) and it's virtually free from lactose, fat and cholesterol.

The thing with it is since it is derived by using micro filters and low temperature its beneficial to muscle growth and repair peptide fractions are kept intact.

This is the protein of highest biological value. Some of its properties include:

• * It stimulates the production of glutathione
• * It strengthens the immune system
• * It has antioxidant and anti-cancer properties
• * It promotes muscle growth

Not bad I say..

Another thing you should know about microfiltered whey is it is the most expensive of all whey proteins. Formulas, comprised mainly of microfiltered whey are expensive.

All that said let's now put everything to use. What you should look for when buying whey protein formula:

1. Low cholesterol content - below 5mg per serving means there is only WPI in the bottle. You still don't know if that's ion-exchange or low-temperature microfiltered whey.
2. Look for the fat and carb content - if it's anything other than zero it probably isn't WPI or it's a cheap mix of large percentage of WPC and very little WPI.
3. If you see whey concentrate in the very beginning of the ingredients list then that's what it is - mainly WPC.
4. If the price is unbelievably low for the quantity, regardless of what whey proteins are listed on the bottle, it's mainly cheap WPC.
5. If you see CFM whey as only ingredient or it's in the very beginning of the ingredients list, if there is a trade mark sign CFM® or Provon®, if the fat and carb contents on the nutrition facts label are zero and the cholesterol content is zero or very close to zero, then that's whey a protein supplement you should buy.

If you want to learn more and in greater detail about the different types of whey and what are the brands that contain CFM whey read my full article.

I hope that helps.

 

DISCLAIMER The techniques, ideas, and suggestions in
this document are not intended as a substitute for proper
medical advice. Always consult your physician or health
care professional before performing any new exercise,
exercise technique or beginning any new diet. Any use of
the techniques, ideas, and suggestions in this document
is at the reader's sole discretion and risk.