whey protein isolate, casein, soy hemp protein powder

WHY WHEY? understanding the differences in proteins

The protein world can be a little overwhelming and tough to navigate.  We all know that the best way to grow muscle and eat a balanced diet is to get in the proper amounts of protein – but between the many brands and types (whey, casein, pea, soy, hemp, rice, etc), it can be nearly impossible to decide what is best for us.  

Which of these options REALLY provides us with the most dense, clean protein? And what is the point of it all anyway?  We decided to put together a quick little fact sheet to walk through some of the primary proteins available and why we prefer grass-fed whey isolate for our products.

WHEY

Whey is the ideal protein of choice with a 104 biological value (i.e., quality of the protein), which is higher than any other source of protein, including eggs, chicken, beef, fish, soybeans, rice, wheat or beans (link).

Whey is also one of the quickest absorbing proteins, which makes it great to take right when you wake up or after a workout.

Within the whey category, there are two main types: concentrate and isolate.

  • Concentrate is the most basic form of whey that is found in most of the protein tubs you see out there. Given that it's pretty inexpensive, concentrate is often a good go-to for those starting to supplement, but it is only about 80% protein and can be tough for our bodies to digest.
  • Isolate is the purest form of whey and is what we use in mēle. Additionally, our whey isolate comes from hormone-free and grass-fed cows!  It is made from cold-pressed raw milk, contains 90% protein.

CASEIN

This protein is very similar to whey, but with a different release process - it is slower digesting and best to take at night.  Typically early morning, or after work-outs, our bodies need something that will absorb a little quicker, but if you are looking to increase your protein intake this could be a great supplement to add to your evening routine before bed.

PLANT PROTEIN (soy, hemp, rice, pea) 

While these proteins are awesome alternatives for lactose-intolerant or vegan-friendly diets, they typically do not offer as high of protein content as whey and casein.  While many of these proteins offer great benefits of providing fatty acids, amino acids, and hypoallergenic options, they tend to be pricier can can be deficient in certain amino acids our bodies need.  More on the pros and cons here.

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