Power of Whey

by Matt Bomba, Vernon,Okanagan,BC

The importance of protein for optimal health can not be overstated.  Protein is required in the growth, maintenance, and development of all body tissues including muscles, blood, skin, hair, nails, and internal organs (the heart and the brain).  We use protein daily for building, repair, and energy.  Therefore we must consume adequate amounts or protein to keep our body supplied with this critical nutrient.  If we eat too little protein, we lose muscle strength, weaken our body’s ability to fight disease and, most importantly decrease our lifespan.  In short, whey protein is essential for life.

Everybody should understand the importance of protein supplementation.  Weight training or active athletes require a lot more protein than sedentary folks.  Without protein (which the body breaks down into amino acids) you can’t build muscle – it’s as simple as that.  Muscles need protein to repair, rebuild, and most of all grow!  But whey protein is not just for athletes.  Some people have a greater protein requirement than others.  If you are active, exercise strenuously, or do heavy labour, or you are pregnant you will need more protein than if you are a couch potato.  Most people rarely get enough protein in their diet due to their food choices and calorie restrictive diets.  Active individuals realize that muscles need protein to repair, rebuild, and most of all grow.  In short, Whey protein is for everyone!  Although bodybuilders were the first to recognize the incredible potent benefits of consuming whey protein it has undoubtedly become the #1 used protein supplement by people from all walks of life.

Whey for Active Teens & Healthy Adults          Whey for Elderly Individuals

Whey for a Compromised Immune System        Whey for Expectant Mothers

No matter what kind of diet you follow – whether it’s low or high in complex carbohydrates or fats and despite the number of calories you take in, your diet must be rich in protein.  In addition to providing your muscles with the vitally important amino acids it needs to grow, protein also has a nice effect on insulin stability and energy levels, especially during a diet.  By consuming protein with each meal there’s a greater chance your blood sugar levels will fluctuate less.  This can help you control your appetite and provide a consistent environment for greater fat loss.

Keeping your body’s protein intake high with five to six meals a day will keep your anabolic drive high which will help you in optimum muscle growth & fat loss.  This also keeps us alert and full of energy but best of all it keeps our fat burning furnace revved up and burning calories.  A protein meal can enhance your metabolic rate and burns more fat compared to a high carbohydrate meal.  Other health benefits include increasing growth hormone levels, immune boosting, controlling appetite, and fighting viral infections.  As well many diseases are related to inadequate protein consumption in the diet especially:

There are many different types of protein sources available to you.  Quality protein can be found in whole foods like eggs, milk, cottage cheese, beef, fish, poultry, etc.  And, there is also a variety of protein supplements on the market: milk and egg protein, soy, beef, even vegetable protein.  Out of all of these different proteins supplements health experts are convinced that whey protein is the best.  Not only does it have a superior biological value (BV) which is the measure of the amount of protein retained in the human body per gram of protein absorbed, it’s very low in lactose (the nasty milk sugar that upsets may people’s stomachs).  It is also extremely high quality and very easy to use due to its physical properties like taste, solubility, and processing resilience which is another terrific thing about it. 

Eating the highest BV proteins daily give us the absolute best and most absorbed protein.  That is why the industry strongly recommends whey protein powder over other forms of protein because the BV is excellent and as a comparison we can say that whey protein isolate powder has twice the biological value compared to milk protein, chicken, or beef, and three times the biological value of legumes.

Another one of the great things about whey protein is that it has an especially high concentration of essential amino acids and fortified with glutamine/glutamic acid which supports the immune system which is important at times of stress and intense exercise.  The higher the biological value, the more a protein is absorbed into our system and able to supply a steady flow of necessary amino acids.  If we have a protein with three meals a day, the supply meets the ongoing, constant demands of our body.

Whey protein is very easy to use.  Due to the extremely low amounts of carbohydrates and fat content and our unique instantizing technology it mixes instantly with a spoon with no excessive foaming or clumps.  Power whey can also be mixed with skim milk, soy milk, fruit juice and fresh or frozen fruit can be added to make a delicious smoothie.  Other additives may be considered such as low fat ice cream, yogurt, and essential fatty acids to make an excellent meal or snack

Submitted by Matt Bomba.   Email: xsports@telus.net