1. Common Sources Of Protein In Protein
Supplement Drinks/Shakes
There are many common ingredients used in the manufacture of protein supplements
(http://www.serioussupplements.co.uk/ ). However the marketing for all protein
supplements is very much alike. How can that be if different ingredients are used? Each
ingredient used as the source of protein has different characteristics and benefits for
both the consumer and the manufacturer. Below you will find a summary of the key
points to consider when purchasing protein supplements with regards to the main
ingredient used for the protein source. You may be surprised at the differences. You
may also realise you have subsequently been tricked into thinking the protein you take
regularly is the best for you. We have found through our research that many people fall
into this kind of trap.
Whey Protein Concentrate
Pros: Reasonably high protein content, additional health benefits and cheap to
manufacture
Cons: Higher levels of fat and carbohydrates
Modern concentrates contain as high as 70-80% protein content with reduced amounts
of lactose and fat. WPC is not the worst of the proteins but far from the best and does
contain significantly less protein per serving on a gram for gram basis than an isolate.
Further drawbacks are that whey protein concentrates also have higher fat and lactose
contents and as a result have lower protein contents per serving.
A high quality whey concentrate will also contain other naturally occurring items such
as growth factors like IGF-1, immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, which improve your
immune system and increase your antioxidant protection. However, using a very high
quality concentrate makes the final product more expensive to produce.
Hydrolyzed Whey Protein
Pros: Faster absorption of protein
Cons: Lack of study regarding the advantage to athletes and bad tasting
Many people will remember hydrolyzed proteins were all the rage a few years ago, but
then dropped off sharply. "Hydrolyzed" basically means the protein has been 'broken
down' partially into peptides of different lengths. Because the protein is already

2. partially 'broken down' it is absorbed faster, which may have positive effects under
certain circumstances, such as certain metabolic conditions (i.e. burn victims or people
with certain digestive disorders and pre-term infants).
Whether or not hydrolyzed proteins are truly advantageous to athletes has yet to be
proven. The hype over hydrolyzed proteins was based pretty much on one rat study
that found fasted rats given hydrolyzed protein had higher nitrogen retention then rats
fed whole protein. However no one ever followed this up with a human study showing
the same results. Regardless, the reason hydrolyzed protein supplements never became
more popular was due to the fact they tasted awful, were expensive and lacked enough
data to really support its use.
Whey Protein Ion Exchange Isolate
Pros: Very high protein content
Cons: Removes other beneficial compounds which gives whey protein its benefits
Ion exchange is made by taking a concentrate and running it through what is called an
"ion exchange" column to get an "ion exchange whey isolate." Sounds pretty fancy but
there are serious drawbacks to this method. Due to the nature of the ion exchange
process, the most valuable and health promoting components are selectively depleted.
Though the protein content is increased, many of the most important sub-fractions are
lost or greatly reduced.
This makes ion exchange isolates a poor choice for a third-generation whey protein
supplement, though many companies still use it as their isolate source due to the higher
protein content and lower cost of manufacturing.
The pros of an ion exchange whey are it provides highest protein content per gram, but
the cons outweigh this as the higher protein content comes at cost such as a loss of
many of the sub-fractions unique to whey which can provide users with additional
health benefits.
Soya & Pea Protein
Pros: Very high protein content, low in fats and good for reducing cholesterol
Cons: Incomplete amino acid profiles, poor digestion and bad taste
These are cheaper forms of protein which have high protein content, but also generally
have incomplete amino acid profiles which are lower than their dairy alternatives. They
also contain typsin inhibitors which interfere with protein digestion. The bad taste is
also a big limiting factor in the use in sports supplements.
They do have benefits of reducing cholesterol and triglycerides, being low in fats and
carbohydrates as well as being a cost effective form of protein.

3. Whey Protein Isolate 92%
Pros: A rich protein source with very little lactose and no fat with fast absorption of amino
acids
Cons: A more expensive product due to it being a rich protein source with very few poor
qualities
WPIs generally contain as much as 90-96% protein. Research has found that only whey
proteins in their natural undenatured state (i.e. native conformational state) have
biological activity.
Processing whey protein to remove the lactose, fats, etc. without losing its biological
activity takes special care by the manufacturer. The protein must be processed under
low temperature and/or low acid conditions as not to "denature" the protein and this
becomes an even greater concern when making high grade isolates versus concentrates.
Whey protein isolate contains >90% protein contents with minimal lactose and virtually
no fat. The advantage of a good whey protein isolate is that it contains more protein and
less fat, lactose, and ash then concentrates on a gram for gram basis.
The fast release of protein makes it ideal to take before and after exercise as the amino
acids are absorbed quickly. The absorption time for amino acids from WPI powders is
estimated between 10 minutes to 1 hour to be fully digested. This will allow your body
to begin building lean muscle definition and increase your strength shortly after
exercise. In addition, this enables your body to begin repairing muscles very soon after
exercise which will assist with avoiding muscular deterioration.
Whey protein isolate has high levels of essential and non essential amino acids for
aiding muscle recovery and providing all the building blocks required for muscle and
tissue growth. It is also high in other naturally occurring items such as IGF-1 (growth
factor), immunoglobulins and lactoferrin, which improve your immune system and
increase your antioxidant protection.
Calcium Caseinate
Pros: A slow-release protein source for optimum recovery and growth
Cons: Bad tasting and poor mixability
A protein synthesised from fresh skimmed milk and is rich in amino acids and calcium, while
being low in fat, sodium and lactose. It is the perfect protein supplement to take before bed,
first thing in the morning with breakfast or post-workout, by anyone looking to support
muscle growth and recovery whilst training. Calcium caseinate is digested slowly by the
body, resulting in a sustained protein release to muscle tissue, and as a result better
absorption of amino acids. This makes it the perfect protein supplement to take when

4. gradual protein absorption is key, for example when high protein meals cannot be
consumed in the immediate term.
Article Submitted By http://www.serioussupplements.co.uk/