WHY WHEY PROTEIN

Optimum Nutrition Gold - Double Rich Chocolate

One of my favourite protein powders. Yummy!

I believe in protein supplementation, especially if you work out as much as I do. Not only does it fill you up better, keeps you full for longer, but the protein also helps your body to recuperate quicker after workouts than without and effectively repairs muscle tissue. Of course you can get protein from food sources such as eggs, milk, cheese, yoghurt, red meat, etc. but not nearly as much as you need, and can get from whey protein, and especially not if you do bodybuilding or working out heavy...

Protein supplements contain Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs), which are Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. They are considered to be essential amino acids because humans could not survive unless they were present in their diet. BCAAs are required to maintain muscle tissue, and studies have shown that they help to preserve the muscle stores of glycogen. BCAAs also prevent muscle tissue breakdown during training.

Unlike other amino acids, BCAAs are not metabolised in the stomach and are instead metabolised directly in the muscle. This unique quality means that they are very anabolic (they build muscle) and very anti-catabolic (they stop muscle breakdown). These unique amino acids (Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine) cannot be produced by your own body, making them essential to be added in your daily diet.

If you want to build muscle, keep lean and have a fitter, more functional body, and you workout a lot, then I would recommend a whey protein supplement. When you look for a protein powder, do your research. Opt for one with at least 20-30% composition of whey isolate, compared to 70-80% of whey concentrate, adding up to 100%. The isolate is a higher, purer form of whey all together and has a better, quicker absorption in your body.


FACTS:

* The body requires more energy to digest protein than other foods (thermic effect) and as a result you burn more calories after a protein meal.

* Recent studies by Dr. Donald Layman, a professor at the University of Illinois, have highlighted the role of the essential amino acid leucine in improving body composition. High quality whey protein is rich in leucine to help preserve lean muscle tissue while promoting fat loss. Whey protein contains more leucine than milk protein, egg protein and soy protein.

* Protein helps to stabilize blood glucose levels by slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. This in turn reduces hunger by lowering insulin levels and making it easier for the body to burn fat.

* Whey protein contains bioactive components that help stimulate the release of two appetite-suppressing hormones: cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). In support of this, a new study found that whey protein had a greater impact on satiety than casein, the other protein in milk. Adding whey protein to a mid-day snack or beverage provides healthy energy and may help control food intake at the next meal.