Protein shakes aren’t just for bodybuilders and athletes. Anyone who wants to increase their fitness potential and reach their health and fitness goals can benefit from protein shakes.
Many people are turning to high-protein diets to help them lose weight and get into better shape.
Combining a high-quality whey protein powder supplement with diet and exercise is an excellent way to support muscle growth, enhance muscle repair, and boost the immune system.
But supplementing your diet with a protein supplement takes some understanding of the different types of protein powders and how they can affect your body.
What is Whey Protein?
Whey protein is derived during the process of making cheese and casein. Casein makes up 80 percent of milk protein, and whey makes up the remaining 20 percent. Whey proteins are an excellent source of branched chain amino acids and essential amino acids.
Whey protein powder offers benefits over other sources of protein. It’s important to remember that whey protein is derived from milk. For people on strict diets with no animal-based products, other whey protein alternatives are available such as soy or pea protein.
The good news is that regardless of the type of whey protein you use, you still get the benefits.
According to Legion Athletics, “At the end of the day, the importance of having protein in your diet cannot be understated, but the remittance of how many of these proteins are not that drastically different from one another cannot be overstated.”
Potential Whey Protein Benefits
Whey protein has several benefits over non-whey protein powders, but both whey protein and non-whey protein powders are excellent solutions for reaching your health and fitness goals. Here are a few benefits of whey protein that you may find interesting.
Promotes Muscle Growth
Whey protein powders can help you gain more muscle through resistance training and weight lifting by increasing muscle protein synthesis.
Proteins are the building blocks of muscles and are made from amino acids. Without sufficient amounts of amino acids, your body can’t build muscle.
Whey Protein Might Help to Lower Blood Pressure
Numerous studies show a link between lower blood pressure and consuming dairy products. Whey proteins contain ACE inhibitors called lactokinesis, which have beneficial effects on blood pressure in animals.
Whey Protein Might Help Moderate Blood Sugar
Insulin is a hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar by your cells. Type-2 diabetes is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels in the bloodstream and impaired insulin function.
Whey protein is effective at moderating blood sugar levels and increasing levels and sensitivity of insulin.
Will Whey Protein Raise or Lower Your Cholesterol?
Many people who are considering supplementing their diets with whey protein are concerned about how it may affect their cholesterol levels. Since whey protein comes from milk, its effect on cholesterol levels is a legitimate concern, especially for people with heart-related conditions.
The good news is that preliminary research is indicating that whey protein may lower cholesterol and triglycerides. In 2016, The European Journal of Clinical Nutrition reviewed 13 studies on the effects of whey protein on total cholesterol.
They concluded that whey protein did not affect total HDL or LDL cholesterol. It would be best to keep in mind that blood cholesterol levels are mainly affected by the amounts of saturated fats you consume. Whey protein has an insignificant amount of saturated fat.
The Bottom Line
Supplementing your diet with whey protein powder offers many benefits without the risks of raising your cholesterol levels. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise routine, whey protein can help improve your health and reach your health and wellness goals.
