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Whey protein supplements are the backbone of the bodybuilding world—and for good reason.
Adding whey protein into your diet comes with its fair share of health benefits as well as ‘strength-building perks’ that will help you build lean muscle mass and stay in tip-top shape.
Drink whey protein regularly and you stand the best possible chance of reaching your strength and fitness goals no matter what type of training you do.
Feeling pumped? Let’s take a look at why whey protein supplementation is so popular and why you should add it to your diet.
What is whey protein?
Whey is the liquid that remains after milk has been curdled. Whey protein is separated from the casein in milk. It’s a wildly popular fitness supplement because it contains all nine essential amino acids, including BCAA’s (branched-chain amino acids)—the body’s building blocks for developing muscle, repairing muscle tissue, and boosting strength.
There are two main types of whey protein available today:
To understand which type of supplement will work best for you, read our essential guide on whey concentrate vs. whey isolate.
The benefits of whey protein
There are plenty of whey protein benefits— and not all of them are exclusive to the gym. Whey proteins do offer multiple health benefits, so no matter your goal—weaving it into your diet is worth it (in most cases, at least).
When people discover the benefits of whey protein, they wonder what they ever did without it. Adding some whey protein powder to your diet could be your best decision this year—and here’s why.
It’s great for building muscle mass and strength
Okay, let’s start with the obvious one: muscle growth. Whey protein is a top-quality source of amino acids that will build your muscles, bones, and body tissue.
As strength training requires you to tear muscle fibres to build stronger ones, the amino acids in whey protein are perfect for accelerating the process. That means you can work harder for longer, and progress more quickly. Whey is also great for improving your body composition.
It’s good for the heart
Whey protein has been seen to lower cholesterol levels, reducing your chance of cardiovascular issues including high blood pressure, strokes, and heart disease. This is a bonus as we need our cardio system to be at full strength for us to work out harder and push ourselves to new limits. So, taking whey proteins instead of an unhealthy snack is the perfect way to steer your heart health in the right direction.
It can boost your mood
Whey protein powder has been shown to increase serotonin (a monoamine neurotransmitter) in the body, which helps us to feel calm and relaxed. This is because whey protein contains a high percentage of the amino acid tryptophan, which raises serotonin production. Taking whey can also help you improve your sleep quality due to its relaxing properties—and it’s a great alternative to caffeine-loaded drinks.
It can help with weight loss
As it’s the most soluble form of protein, whey is excellent for those looking to lose weight and pack on muscle mass. A protein shake is a great way to stave off those hunger cravings without reaching for a higher calorie alternative. Oh, and as it’s high in protein and low in carbs, your metabolism burn will increase, too.
Milk proteins are also low in fat and cholesterol, which is excellent for those looking to lower their carb intake while staying healthy.
It boosts immunity
Studies have shown that whey protein can improve our immunity to infections, increasing the level of the antioxidant glutathione in our body. Several studies show that increasing your whey protein consumption can boost your immune response against infections and disease.
It’s great for your skin
Those who want to keep their skin in tip-top condition should have a closer look at whey protein, as it’s great for retaining moisture, giving it a much firmer look.
It will basically make you glow with youth. It also helps to balance the PH level of your skin and lactic acid helps remove dead cells and impurities. It’s a skin win-win-win.
It’s great for bone health
Protein packs a real punch to keep our bones in excellent condition as it improves calcium absorption to keep them strong. A recent study found that whey protein effectively promotes healthy bone formation and slows bone resorption.
It helps regulate blood sugar levels
Keeping our sugar levels regulated is essential and whey protein helps by giving our body a positive nitrogen balance. This helps to stem hunger cravings and in this respect, it’s effective in controlling issues such as diabetes by improving insulin resistance while managing glucose levels.
So, should you take whey protein?
Yes, absolutely. As you can see, adding a whey protein supplement to your diet can help in so many ways.
Whether you’re looking to pack on muscle mass, lose weight, improve your skin, improve your mood or boost cardio health, whey protein can help. It’s a multi-purpose health aid that will conveniently boost your protein intake while improving your overall health.
Getting whey protein into your daily diet couldn’t be easier. You can add simply:
- Add a scoop to your breakfast cereal
- Make a protein smoothie
- Rustle up a protein pancake
- Mix it in with some fruit and yoghurt
The more we work out, the more we want to find ways to improve ourselves. We start to look for better exercises, better nutrition, and of course, better supplements. And, when it comes to building lean muscle while feeling more energised, whey protein is one of the best supplements for the job.
Crazy Nutrition’s Tri-Protein formula is perfect for those looking to build, repair, and recover faster from workouts while serving up all of the other benefits you gain from a quality whey protein.
