Whey Protein Isolate Vs Whey Protein Concentrate
What's the difference?
Protein supplements are one of the most popular supplements on the market and whey is the most common.
Whey protein is ideal for anyone who needs additional protein in their diets – from world-class athletes to aging adults.
It supports fitness training, weight management, or just maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Whether it’s a powder, bar or drink you should “know the fucking difference between proteins.”
Haha okay that was harsh.
But honestly know the difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate so you can make an educated decision about what goes into your body.
Not all protein is equal.
We are going to go over the differences between these two common forms of whey protein and whether one is better to use.
Know Where Your Protein Came From
Now whey protein comes from dairy… I can’t tell you how many lactose intolerant people I meet that don’t know why protein is derived from dairy.
Luckily through during the process of creating whey protein a large amount of the lactose is removed. Even more so is whey protein isolate.
Whey protein isolate has both lower carb and lactose content compared to why protein concentrate.
So if you are lactose intolerant but still want to consume whey protein you should choose to consume a whey protein isolate.
You are welcome and everyone that has to live with you or be around you when you consume a protein shake is also welcome.
Nevertheless, the amount of lactose in both forms of whey protein is likely to be low enough for those who are lactose intolerant to use.
What Is Whey Protein?
When milk is processed to form cheese or yogurt, the remaining liquid is called whey.
Whey protein is the fast-digesting part of dairy protein. And this is why it has become so popular among weight lifters.
After you break your body down during a workout you want to maximize your recovery and get nutrients to your muscles and bones as quickly as possible.
So it makes sense to use a fast digesting protein powder like whey.
Whey protein is also considered particularly beneficial for increasing the production of new protein in your muscles when compared to other proteins like casein or plant based proteins.
The Difference Between Isolate & Concentrate
There are several different types of whey protein used in supplements. Two of the most common forms are whey isolate and whey concentrate.
There are several nutritional differences between whey isolate and concentrate. These differences are caused by the processing methods.
When the liquid whey is collected as a by-product of cheese or yogurt production, it undergoes several processing steps to increase its protein content.
To be considered a whey protein concentrate the liquid whey is dried to form a whey concentrate powder that consists of up to 80% protein (by weight). The remaining 20% of the whey concentrate powder contains carbohydrates and fats.
To be considered a whey protein isolate, different processing steps are used to reduce the fat and carbohydrate content of whey. A whey isolate powder can be created containing 90% or more protein (by weight).
Overall, the processing steps used in the production of whey isolate result in higher protein content and lower fat and carbohydrate content per serving.
However, the types of amino acids found in both forms of whey are virtually identical, since they are derived from the same proteins.
In addition to their nutritional differences, there are cost differences between these two types of whey. Generally, whey isolate is more expensive than whey concentrate.
While this makes sense based on the higher purity of whey isolate, taking a larger quantity of whey concentrate can bring you the same dose of protein, often at a lower cost.
So what does this all mean:
The main difference between whey isolate and concentrate is that whey isolate undergoes more processing, which results in a higher protein content with less carbs, lactose and fat. Whey isolate is typically more expensive than whey concentrate.
Similar Benefits
It’s no secret when using a quality whey protein powder you can expect improvements in lean mass and strength.
Despite the minor differences in nutritional content between whey and concentrate, there is not strong evidence to suggest that whey isolate and concentrate have different effects in your body.
In regards to protein, one of the most important factors is your total daily intake.
Both whey isolate and concentrate are high-quality proteins, and it is reasonable to expect that they will produce similar effects if an equivalent dose of protein is taken.
With that said, those who are limiting their fat, carbohydrate or lactose intake may prefer whey isolate since it is lower than whey concentrate in all three of these components.
Not All Brands Are Equal
Beware of the following when buying a protein powder:
Contaminants:
Consumer Reports has found Brands like EAS Myoplex and Muscle Milk had high levels of contaminants including arsenic and cadmium, which can negatively effect your health. A high percentage of protein powder brands had some kind of contamination, from lead to mercury, although most brands had predicted levels below the “dangerous” level.
Supplements don’t have FDA regulations so It’s important to find a trusted brand that is known for no detected contaminants. At Coffee Shop Health we trust and recommend Throne Research.
Click here to view our recommended whey protein isolate from Thorne.
Allergies:
Protein powders might be made or be contaminated with soy, whey, egg, rice, pea or hemp protein. Caution must be taken to avoid allergens; read labels closely!
Sugars and artificial colors:
Artificial colors and flavorings are toxins that create unnecessary work for the liver. Corn syrups and added sugars (anything that ends in –ose) cause blood sugar to spike. Plenty of powder options exist that are made with stevia or no sweetener at all.
At Coffee Shop Health, our health professionals have already done the research for you and can recommend the best, non-toxic protein powder for you, to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. As stated we choose Thorne Research.
Thorne’s Whey Protein Isolate Details
Thorne's Whey Protein Isolate is NSF Certified for Sport®.
It features a balanced amino acids profile, including lysine and arginine and the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine, which allow the body to be better able to benefit from the protein.
Low in sugar, calories, and fat, and easy to digest, Thorne's Whey Protein Isolate contains all the essential amino acids.
Its sweeteners and flavorings are derived from natural sources, and it contains no soy.
It's also a complete protein because it contains all of the essential amino acids and it has an optimal absorption profile.
With gut health in mind, digestive enzymes from papaya and pineapple have been added to support digestion of the protein powder while removing all but trace amounts of lactose from the powder.
This Thorne product is sweetened using evaporated cane sugar and stevia extract, which yields only two grams of sugar per serving.
Because an athlete needs to know that his or her supplements are trustworthy and compliant, every batch of an NSF Certified for Sport® product is tested for compliance with label claims and to ensure the absence of more than 200 substances banned by many major athletic organizations.
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