What Is Whey Protein? | Exercise.com Learn: Your Fitness Business Resource

What Is Whey Protein?

Tyler Spraul is the director of UX and the head trainer for Exercise.com. He has his Bachelor of Science degree in pre-medicine and is an NSCA-certified strength and conditioning specialist. He is a former All-American soccer player and still coaches soccer today. In his free time, he enjoys reading, learning, and living the dad life. He has been featured in Shape, Healthline, HuffPost, Women's...

Full Bio →

Written by

UPDATED: Aug 25, 2020

Advertiser Disclosure

It’s all about your brand. Let us do the heavy lifting.

Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident fitness software decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. Our partners do not influence our content. Our opinions are our own.

Editorial Guidelines: The Editorial Team at Exercise.com is dedicated to providing fair, unbiased information about the fitness industry. We update our site regularly and all content is reviewed by credentialed fitness experts.

Get the Basics...
  • There are three types of whey protein that are able to be consumed.
  • Whey protein is often consumed by athletes to improve physical fitness.
  • Whey protein boosts the presence of amino acids in the body.

Whey protein is a naturally enhanced source of protein that is beneficial to your body in the same aspect amino acids are.

Amino acids are natural protein strands in your DNA that help make up the muscle structure of your body.

Whey protein is the best quality source of protein for your body.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, enhance your physical performance, or increase your bone fitness, whey protein may be a good option for you.

Also, if your having trouble starting an exercise routine, look no further. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, goal trackers, and more!

What Are the Types of Whey Protein?

The three types of whey protein are:

  • Whey protein isolate
  • Whey protein concentrate
  • Hydrolyzed whey protein

Whey protein isolate is the purest form of whey protein, giving its user the highest quality protein there is.

Whey protein isolate contains no cholesterol, fat, or lactose, therefore it is the healthiest option of whey protein supplements.

Hydrolyzed whey protein is a type of whey protein that has an unknown amount of actual protein in its substance. Hydrolyzed whey protein is definitely of inferior quality than whey protein isolate, and can be consumed in gelatin, powder, or liquid forms.

Whey protein concentrate can be consumed by powder and usually has a different source of protein in each different brand and/or substance. While some concentrations include 80% protein, some may only contain 40-50% protein.

In order to consume a whey protein product with a reasonable amount of protein, you should always check the ingredient label in order to ensure the quality of the product.

These supplements are not regulated by the FDA. For a further breakdown of what whey is, check out the video below!

Who Can Take Whey Protein?

Whey protein can be consumed by anyone of any age. Athletes, fitness buffs, and bodybuilders try to consume whey protein for more muscle mass and better physical performance. Some people find it useful for rebuilding their immune systems after illness or surgery.

Whey protein can be consumed in many different forms such as powders, liquids, or even tablets. Although the powders that dissolve in liquid provide a faster source of protein, tablets are just as effective in due time.

Muscle milk, or protein milk, are liquid forms that may not include a large amount of protein. Always check the ingredient label before consuming the product.

Some people may begin to take whey protein supplements in order to increase their overall fitness and promote bone health.

Some doctors may recommend a whey protein substance in order to build muscle mass for their patients who are lacking in amino acids or have medical issues that affect their digestive systems.

Whey protein also benefits your muscles, skin appearance, and nail beds.

Get More Out of Your Health and Fitness Routine. Go PRO!

Sign Up

Why Do Athletes Take Whey Protein?

Athletes choose whey protein as an extra source of protein for their bodies because one of its most beneficial aspects is to enhance physical performance. Whey protein is known to produce a muscular, lean muscle, strong physique in your body because of an extra boost of amino acids.

Athletes build muscle mass and burn energy twice as fast as those who do not exercise regularly. Therefore, it is best that they consume twice as much protein in a daily dose than normal.

Some of the athletes who may need this extra protein include football players, rugby players, hockey players, wrestlers, and crew teams. Any athletes who need to build muscle mass are perfect candidates to use whey protein.

Whey protein also includes the best source of BCAA’s (branched-chain amino acids), which replace the natural food sources that we are supposed to keep in our daily diets.

Whey protein also directly increases metabolic rate and directly tends to muscle tissue, which is affected first when you exercise or lift weights.

Whey protein includes a specific type of amino acid called Leucine. Leucine is a type of amino acid that directly affects muscle growth and the chain of muscles in your body. Leucine also decreases body fat and increases lean muscle, which helps an athlete perform at a quicker and more efficient rate.

Whey protein helps support healthy immune systems due to the amount of Glutathione in its substance. Glutathione is a type of antioxidant that is essential to a healthy immune system.

Taking whey protein along with an exercise routine is an effective way to see positive results. Go PRO today for access to certified personal trainers, workout plans, and more.

Learn more about Exercise.com Fitness Business Management Software.

Schedule your demo today.