Whey protein: what it is, benefits and harms, how to take it

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Protein combination – Whey gold standard. One of the leaders in protein mixtures on the sports nutrition market. The basis of the complex is a microfiltrate of serum albumin in combination with ion-exchange isolate and ultraconcentrate. As a supplement – ​​whey peptides. Manufacturer: Optimum Nutrition.

What is whey protein?

Like other supplements, this popular remedy is of natural origin, namely animal. As the name implies, the powder is obtained from whey. It, in turn, is a by-product of cheese production. Some time ago, manufacturers did not know its value, but now the issue has been well studied. The watery part of milk, which is whey, contains easily digestible amino acids, lactose, a full range of B vitamins, calcium and other beneficial substances. In fact, it absorbs all the best that is in dairy products. The composition of the protein is close to that contained in human milk. It's hard to imagine something more healthy and nutritious.

Why is whey protein so popular?

The supplement is effective for gaining muscle mass, as it provides the body with the amino acids necessary for building muscles, including essential ones. Maintain protein standards without using sports nutrition

Additionally, whey protein:

• Increases the release of hormones that have a beneficial effect on the growth of muscle tissue.
• Due to the high content of leucine, it lowers blood sugar levels and helps speed up the restoration of skin and bones.
• It has the highest absorption rate, since this type of protein is processed faster by cells.
• Increases metabolism, thereby promoting weight loss. However, it is worth noting that, unlike casein, this protein satisfies hunger only for a short time.
• Improves well-being, boosts immunity, helps in the fight against various diseases.

Thus, the supplement can also be used for weight loss, while you will reduce the percentage of fat and maintain muscle mass, but you must maintain a calorie deficit. Whey protein itself has a specific taste, so manufacturers usually add various flavors to it. The most popular are strawberry, chocolate and vanilla.

It is important to understand that all the praise relates primarily to pure protein, which is quite difficult to isolate. In reality, mixtures may have different benefits and other properties. It all depends on the specific additive.

Which whey protein to choose

Obviously, the type of additive indicated on the can does not guarantee the effect described above. When choosing, you need to pay attention not only to the manufacturer, but also to the degree of protein processing. Depending on this factor, there are:

• Concentrate. The protein itself accounts for up to 80% of the composition. In addition, it contains lactose, fats and a wide range of useful elements. Well absorbed, not suitable for drying.
• Isolate. Approximately 90% consists of pure protein. The content of fats, lactose and vitamins is lower.
• Hydrolyzate is distinguished by its maximum degree of purification and absorption rate. Significantly raises insulin levels, fat and lactose are completely removed.

Some supplements are a mixture of whey protein of varying degrees of processing. Despite the not the highest percentage of pure protein content, concentrates are the best option. They are characterized by a large amount of nutrients and a relatively low price.

ON Protein Benefits

The main advantage and distinctive feature of whey protein 100% Whey Gold Standard is its stable quality, which has been maintained for more than 10 years. This is an incredible indicator, which makes the supplement a reference. The protein mixture itself is a monocomponent supplement that contains one substance - purified protein. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to evaluate protein. There are three main criteria for this:

• Quality cannot be assessed by eye; the only verification option is the results of independent laboratory tests. Consistent quality from batch to batch can only be achieved by using high-quality raw materials from the same suppliers throughout the entire production cycle;
• Composition - in fact, the higher the protein content and the lower the fat and carbohydrate content, the better the protein is considered. The 77-80% whey protein in Whey Gold Standard makes it the best among similar products from other companies. Some isolates have a lower percentage of protein than ON concentrate;
• Ease of use - it all comes down to the taste and solubility of the powder, in which ON still has almost no competitors.

Best Whey Protein 2022

For your convenience, we list a number of the most popular and effective supplements. All of them are great for gaining mass, including by professional athletes. If you see WHEY on a can of protein, it means it’s whey. In this case, WPC is a concentrate, WPI is an isolate, WPH is a hydrolyzate.

• WEIDER GOLD WHEY PROTEIN
  For every 100 g there are 24 g of protein and 23 g of amino acids. Low sugar and fat content. Available in a wide variety of delicious flavours. Dissolves well.
• SAN 100% PURE TITANIUM WHEY
  Great taste and premium quality have made this supplement one of the most popular in the world. Guarantees effective dry mass gain. Contains additional elements to prevent catabolism and active muscle formation.
• DYMATIZE ELITE WHEY PROTEIN
  A good mixture at a reasonable price. Provides the protein concentration necessary for the growth and preservation of muscle tissue.
• ULTIMATE NUTRITION PROSTAR WHEY
  Suitable for both hard-training athletes and ordinary people who train 1-2 times a week. It is best taken after training, its duration does not matter. Allows you not only to restore and ensure muscle growth, but also strengthen the immune system.
• OPTIMUM NUTRITION 100% WHEY GOLD STANDARD
  It is a mixture of isolate, concentrate, and whey peptides. The content of fats and carbohydrates is kept to a minimum. Very popular due to its high efficiency and large selection of flavors.

Consultants from a specialized store can also help you with your choice. But that’s not all, now you need to figure out how the supplement should be taken.

Description 100% Whey Gold Standard

Protein mixtures are the most popular category of supplements in the sports nutrition industry.
They are used regardless of the types of physical activity and training cycles. Muscles constantly need amino acids from protein foods, even in people who do not engage in any sports. Therefore, Whey Protein Gold Standard is often taken to obtain the full daily requirement of protein, since the supplement is purified from any impurities and contains quickly digestible protein. For example, 2 servings of Optimum Nutrition's Whey Gold Standard protein provide half the daily protein requirement for a person weighing 80 kg. For many years, ON100% Whey Gold Standard has been considered the benchmark supplement. The company has earned the title of the best protein manufacturer not just thanks to its perfectly balanced formula, but also to the quality that does not change from batch to batch. Over the years, laboratory tests of protein supplements from the best brands have always shown the consistent quality of 100% Whey Gold Standard, which fully corresponds to the information stated on the packaging. ON's protein ratio per serving never went beyond the acceptable margin of error, while other well-known brands often “sinned” with the composition. The actual amount of protein per serving differed by 15-25% from what was stated on the package, and in some cases, analyzes even revealed the addition of vegetable protein to reduce the cost.

The quality of protein powders is very difficult to assess, given that most consumers will never be able to visit closed production plants. Therefore, the main evaluation criterion is laboratory analysis. It determines the exact quantity and quality of protein in a serving, as well as the amino acid profile.

Composition and release forms of the additive

The 100% Whey Gold Standard protein formula is largely responsible for the popularity and worldwide recognition of the supplement. Later, most manufacturers began to copy or adopt the Whey Gold Standard formulation for their whey proteins. But even under these conditions, none of the brands managed to surpass ON.

Ingredients of 1 serving:

• Protein – 23-24 g;
• Carbohydrates – 2-3 g;
• Fats – 1 g;
• Calorie content – ​​119-125 kcal.

It is important to note that the amount of protein and carbohydrates in Whey Gold Standard may vary between flavors. Some flavors contain 3g of sugars or 23g of protein. But the spread does not exceed 1 gram. This is due to the use of natural flavorings, which can minimally affect the energy composition of a serving.

Another reason for its popularity is that Whey Gold Standard includes several types of whey protein:

• Concentrate;
• Isolate;
• Whey peptides.

The combination of three forms of whey protein provides both rapid absorption of amino acids and long-lasting anabolic effects.

The protein is available in 4 types of packaging:

• 100% Whey Gold Standard 454 grams in soft packaging;
• Plastic jar 912 grams;
• Whey Gold Standard in a large 2.27 or 1.5 kg jar;
• Large Soft Bag of Optimum Nutrition Protein 4.54 kg.

The 3.6kg pack and single serving samples are no longer produced and are considered obsolete. The natural-flavored supplement weighs 40-50 grams less and has a light label instead of a red one.

Flavor line

The Whey Gold Standard flavor line is the calling card of Optimum Nutrition. The brand uses mainly natural flavorings, so the cocktails do not have a chemical aftertaste.

Whey Gold Standard's flavor diversity is one of the richest in the industry. The line contains 25 different variations:

• Banana cream;
• Delicious strawberries;
• Banana-strawberry;
• Tropical Punch;
• Chocolate mint;
• White chocolate;
• Classic chocolate;
• Double chocolate;
• Super milk chocolate;
• Chocolate Peanut Butter;
• Salted caramel;
• Vanilla;
• Chocolate Coconut;
• Chocolate malt;
• Cinnamon Graham Cracker;
• Cake and donut;
• Cookies and cream;
• Key Lime Pie;
• Cake;
• Rocky Road;
• Vanilla ice cream;
• French vanilla cream;
• Strawberry;
• Coffee;
• Cappuccino Mocha.

The line also includes an additive without additional flavor; it contains only sweeteners.

How to use it correctly

Whey protein is usually mixed into shakes with water, milk or juice. Due to its rapid absorption, it is most often consumed after training, within half an hour. This will dull the feeling of hunger and quickly restore muscle nutrition. This is the best time to consume whey protein. In addition, it makes sense to take the supplement before training - two hours before. In the process of losing weight, it is appropriate to replace one of your meals with a protein shake. It is also beneficial to consume the mixture between meals. And to stop the process of muscle breakdown during sleep, a serving of protein should be the first thing you consume in the morning. This should be followed approximately 40 minutes later by a balanced breakfast. Taking it in the morning is sufficient if you are not exercising.

In general, whey protein is not harmful and is suitable for everyone, with the exception of people with lactose intolerance. Due to the negative impact of high concentrations of protein on the kidneys, people with diseases of these organs should also be careful. If used incorrectly, digestive upset may occur. Unpleasant sensations can be caused by flavoring additives; this is another reason to carefully study the composition of the mixture.

You can buy whey protein at any sports nutrition store. With the right diet and training plan, you can achieve amazing results. It must be recognized that the use of supplements provides unique opportunities for improving and maintaining physical fitness.

Compound

One serving of the dietary supplement, which is 33 g of pure product, contains:

• 135 calories.
• 25 g whey protein blend.
• 5 g of carbohydrates - indicates that the product belongs to proteinates, and not to gainers. (here are details about their differences).
• Up to 2 g of fat – ensures the absence of lipid deposits.
• More than 200 mg Na+.
• About 145 mg Ca++.
• A complex of 18 essential and essential amino acids that enhance the construction function of the product.

The combination of components allows the dietary supplement to be easily and quickly absorbed without causing problems with the digestive system. The mixture is simple to prepare: the powder dissolves easily in water. Several servings of the resulting cocktail per day solve the problem of delivering the required amount of protein and amino acids to the body.

Since protein is the basis of the product, it is important to understand its properties and sources. It seems that the calorie content and composition of the drug allow us to call it an isolate, but this is not entirely true. In fact, it is a whey protein supplement, the amount of which exceeds all known analogues. It consists of:

• Whey isolate.
• Its concentrate.
• Peptide chains are a by-product of straining curdled milk.

To purify the product, ultrafiltration, ion exchange, microfiltration are used - the most innovative methods of technological processing of raw materials. This preserves the most important natural substances that exhibit anabolic properties in Whey Gold Standard. Milk peptides in combination improve digestion, that is, they directly stimulate the process of product absorption.

Because of this, many athletes taking the drug who cannot tolerate proteins in other mixtures feel virtually no discomfort when taking it. However, lactose intolerance is still a contraindication to the use of dietary supplements. Such athletes should pay attention to hydrolyzate or pure isolate.