Many doctors, dietitians, and even athletes assume that protein is protein. This is not at all true. All proteins are not created equal. There’s whey protein, from milk. There’s meat protein. And, then there’s the latest craze, and still very popular— soy protein. Just as there are many food sources of protein, there is a wide range of protein supplements.

Whey protein is the most widely used protein supplement found in stores today. Most store-bought protein contains a combination of different types of whey protein. Derived from milk, it makes up about 18% of the protein found in milk. It is digested and absorbed usually within 2 hours after ingestion. There are several ways this protein is processed, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each process.

Whey Protein Concentrates are processed under low-acid, low-temperature conditions, and can range in purity from 35-80%. The lower the purity, the more gas and bloating from the lactose and other impurities. These impurities make the protein harder to digest. Higher purity allows the more important natural peptides and immune-boosting particles to remain in the protein. This allows for easier assimilation and digestion.

Next, there’s the Ion Exchange Whey Protein. They are processed to contain at least 90% protein, with less lactose and fat. Even though they are higher in protein and lower in lactose than most whey concentrates, they do not have some of the more important natural peptides.

Another process called the Cross Flow Micro-filtered Whey Protein Isolate. This produces a high-purity protein, with over 90%, that’s also very low in lactose and fat. It not only retains the natural peptides, the concentrate also contains important minerals such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. The only thing negative about this processing method is its higher cost.

The Whey Protein Hydrolysate is processed to be pre-digested and partially broken-down. And, because of this it is the most quickly absorbed of all the whey proteins. However, its relatively high cost and strange taste cause this to be the least desirable of the protein supplements.

The Casein Protein, the all-time favorite of body builders, is also derived from milk, with casein making up over 80% of the protein in milk. It is much slower digesting than whey, because it forms a gel in the stomach that takes as much as 7 hours to digest and assimilate. And just as there are many kinds of whey proteins, there are just as many different casein proteins.

These protein supplements are necessary for body builders because according to studies endurance athletes need about 0.6 grams, and strength athletes need 0.8 grams of protein per day— amounts they could never get just from food sources. To intake these amounts, an athlete has to consume even more than the recommended amount, because like many other kinds of supplements, some amount of protein is excreted from the body without ever having been used.

So, just as its name implies, protein means “the number one.” Treat it as it deserves, and
it will never let you down—or your body.

by Bruce Heath, DnC
Your Health and Medical Consultant.