If you need to boost your protein intake, there are many health benefits of whey protein, making it a great choice as a supplement. Whey protein is high in nutrients that can help you meet your fitness and weight loss goals. Taking whey protein supplements can speed up your workout recovery and help with building lean muscle mass. Whey protein even gives your body a boost of antioxidants, which reduce your risk of chronic diseases like cancer.
This guide will go over the health benefits of whey protein and offer guidance on the best types of whey protein to help you meet your health and fitness goals.
What Is Whey Protein?
Before we get started, you may be wondering what whey protein is exactly. Whey protein is derived from dairy products, as whey is a byproduct that comes from the process of straining milk. Whey protein is a high-quality form of protein that is easily digestible for most people. Taking a whey protein supplement boosts your daily protein intake and is a convenient way to meet your dietary needs.
Whey protein usually comes in powder form and is the perfect ingredient to add to smoothies, shakes, and even baked foods like cookies. You can choose chocolate whey protein powder or vanilla whey protein to suit your tastes.
Health Benefits of Whey Protein
Whether you want to lose weight, build muscle, or enjoy faster workout recovery, there are many health benefits of whey protein. Here are some of the main advantages of taking this a whey protein supplement:
High-Quality Protein
Unlike many forms of protein supplements, whey protein is a complete protein. This means that it offers all essential amino acids which your body needs to get from the foods you eat.
Digests Quickly
Whey protein is one of the most digestible forms of protein, as long as you are not allergic to lactose. Whey protein is quickly digested and your body can begin using the protein right away.
Helps with Weight Loss
If you want to lose weight, one of the health benefits of whey protein is that it can make you feel more satiated and curb your appetite. According to researchers, eating a protein-rich diet has been proven to improve weight loss. In contrast with carbs, protein helps you feel more full and won’t leave you craving more calories.
Whey protein also helps build and maintain lean muscle tissue, and muscle burns more calories than fat, helping you to lose weight.
Boosts Muscle Growth
If you want to build muscle and improve your physique, taking a whey protein powder supplement will help you get results. Whether you’re bodybuilding or working on getting a more toned, lean physique, whey protein will help your body build lean muscle. Taking whey protein within 30 minutes of your workout gives you the nutrients you need to build muscle.
Improves Workout Recovery
Another health benefit of whey protein is speeding up your muscle recovery after workouts. If you do an intense strength training or HIIT workout, taking a whey protein supplement will cut down your recovery time. Aim to have your whey protein boost within 30 minutes of your workout for optimal recovery.
Lowers Cholesterol
Whey protein offers health benefits as well as fitness rewards. Studies demonstrate that whey protein supplements lower “bad cholesterol” – LDL and total cholesterol. This reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Offers Antioxidants
Whey protein offers antioxidant benefits, according to scientists. This means that whey protein supplements can boost your body’s defences against free radicals and damaging conditions. Whey protein helps your body naturally produce glutathione, which strengthens your immune system and helps your body build and repair tissue.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Consuming whey protein can help lower your blood pressure. According to Harvard Health, in a study of people with moderately high blood pressure, ingesting 56 grams of whey protein per day led to about a 3-point drop in systolic blood pressure and a 2-point drop in diastolic blood pressure.
Can Reduce Inflammation
Another one of the health benefits of whey protein is reducing inflammation in the body. Whey protein is an anti-inflammatory that is one of the best sources of branched-chain amino acids like leucine, which can fight chronic inflammation. Some serious health issues are linked to chronic inflammation, including diabetes, heart, disease, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Combats Muscle Loss
The ageing process causes a natural loss of muscle that increases as time goes on. This muscle loss can lead to balance issues, injuries, weight gain, and a loss of strength and functioning. According to the National Institutes of Health, muscle mass decreases about 3 to 8 percent per decade after the age of 30. Consuming whey protein supplements helps reverse this process, spurring the body to build muscle and maintain healthy muscle tissue.
Choosing a Whey Protein Supplement
After learning about all of the health benefits of whey protein, you are probably ready to get started with a whey protein supplement. When choosing a supplement, look for Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) as it has less fat and lactose than whey protein concentrate. Also, look for a whey protein supplement that does not have additives and high amounts of sugar.
Alpha G3netics 100% Whey Protein Supplement comes in chocolate and vanilla flavours and includes whey protein isolate as the first ingredient. This low-fat whey protein powder has no artificial colours or flavours and packs in 27 grams of protein in a fast-acting, easily digestible formula that tastes great. This premium whey protein supplement also has added L-Glutamine, digestive enzymes, and nutrients to maximise amino acid absorption.
Check out the Activ Nutrition Shop today to stock up on the best whey protein powder and other supplements to help you live a healthier life. Whether you want to lose weight or boost your muscle mass, we have the best whey protein powder to suit your needs.
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