Why Choose Whey Protein Isolate Over Whey Protein Concentrate?
As you start your bodybuilding journey, you will realise that you will need to be consuming protein supplements, especially immediately after a workout. You will find out that whey protein comes in three forms. These include whey protein isolate, whey protein hydrolysate, and whey protein concentrate. So, which whey protein is the right one to aid in your bodybuilding endeavours?
After extensive use, bodybuilders now feel that the best protein supplement is whey protein isolate, because of its quality. However, there are some people who do better with a whey protein concentrate. Whey protein isolates do not contain any lactose, fat, or carbohydrates. While this may be great for someone who is in good shape already, it really isn’t necessarily the best choice for someone who needs to build muscle and gain a little weight as well.
In this case, the whey protein concentrate is indeed the better choice. Whey protein concentrates do have a little fat and cholesterol, but also have some amount of carbohydrates. If someone is looking to gain some weight as well as build muscle, it is important that they get the right combination of protein and carbs. Watching the mix of their daily diet will also help keep up the amount of carbs while they are putting on some weight.
It is important to note that while whey protein isolate has about 90% pure protein, whey protein concentrate does not have as much pure protein. In fact, the more lactose and carbohydrates that the whey protein concentrate has, the less pure protein it has. A whey protein concentrate has anywhere from 29% to 89% protein, with the higher quality whey protein concentrate having the greatest amount. Therefore, when choosing your protein concentrate, it is important to check the label and find one with the highest protein level. It will cost a little more, but you will need it for building muscle mass.
A quality whey protein concentrate, however, will cost less than whey protein isolate products, which is a bonus for those who want less lactose and carbohydrates. Protein supplements are expensive, and not everyone can afford the high quality products. Even though there is just a 1% difference between a whey protein isolate and a quality whey protein concentrate, the difference in cost is usually pretty great.
So, what is the recommended level of protein concentrate that you need. Most experts agree that for all athletes, one and a half grams of protein per pound of body weight is optimum. Bodybuilders do need to build muscle mass though, and because of this some bodybuilders do tend to use a little more than the optimum dose. In saying that, it is not recommended to expect protein supplements to build muscle for you, so even though you may want to take a little extra, the warning is not to over do it. If you do, you will tend to carry fat and lose shape.
You may wish to experiment to find the exact amount of whey protein concentrate that works best for you. Start at one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight, and work your way up slowly as you feel your body is still benefiting from it.
Whey protein concentrate should not be taken in its original packaged form. It should be mixed with a liquid, such as fruit juice or water, but it should not be mixed with a dairy product, like milk. Also, you may not want to start at the full 30 grams per feed. Instead, you may want to work up to that, so that you don’t risk constipation and other side effects.
As with any supplements you need to know what you can use and what you cannot. Whey protein concentrate products are considered high dairy products, and if you are lactose intolerant, you may have serious problems with a whey protein concentrate, and may need to opt for a whey protein isolate instead.