The maximum health benefits are what everyone looks for in their supplements. And in the realm of competitive bodybuilding or body sculpting, the words WHEY PROTEIN are heard reverently. But even for the gym rat or average citizen looking to optimize their health goals, whey protein is often a critical component of their supplement regimen. Agreed? But are all whey proteins the same? The truth is that many of the brands (and even many of the natural brands in health food stores) are using an inferior source of whey protein, which has resulted in this nutritional supplement being a poor wrapper.
Who likes yogurts? Okay, not that important, but for example … have you ever noticed the liquid on top of natural yogurts when you open them? That is whey protein in its original form. Why are you paying so much money for protein powers when all that is is this liquid serum that has gone through a drying process to remove all the water and turn it into a powder? Good question and I suggest that some of the most expensive are the least beneficial. A Consumer Reports test showed that 3 of the 15 protein drinks tested contained dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead. All these factors make them inferior from the point of view of health.
Let’s take a moment for a very important tangent and give you the “juice” to select your whey protein, or should I say “Complete +” protein shakes. 1. This is the source, and if the source is contaminated, so will the final powder. So start with grass-fed farms. This means all-natural grass-fed whey, NOT pesticide-treated grain-fed whey. Grass-fed cows produce whey that: A. is nutritionally superior to grain-fed cows. B. Contains an impressive amino acid profile and immune support nutrients. C. It is rich in healthy fats: linoleic acid and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)
OK, are you still with us? Here’s the second tip! 2. Non-GMO, choose non-GMO serum. Next up is RAW – which is typically considered cold processed as well. This is the most critical component to consider when selecting your whey, because heat processed whey: A. Makes the whey acidic and nutritionally deficient. B. Damages immune-supporting micronutrients. C. Makes whey unsuitable for consumption. D. And I’ve even read that some studies have found it to be carcinogenic; where cold processed whey protects nutrients in their natural state. 3. Your serum must be in the nature of a concentrate, not an isolate. An isolate is proteins stripped of their nutritional cofactors or phytonutrients. This creates some serious problems: A. All isolates are exposed to acid processing. B. Your body cannot take in protein in isolation. Therefore, there is no bioavailability. C. Because they are over-processed, isolates are found to be deficient in key amino acids and other nutritional enzymes. The bonus tip of the year would be to avoid whey that contains heavy metals. An evaluation by Consumer Reports showed that some leading brands of protein powders exceeded the safety limits recommended by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) for certain heavy metals. You want to avoid these products at all costs because any high concentration of heavy metals taken over time could have serious health consequences.
Commonly, whey protein is derived from milk during cheese making, through a natural fermentation process. But later on, we will introduce you to the concept of plant-based protein powder. But for now, let’s talk about the raw processing difference, because it applies to both! When whey protein is processed at a low temperature (raw or cold processed), it retains many of its fragile immune factors and nutrients, leaving it loaded with the ideal combination of easily absorbed amino acids, anti-inflammatory immune factors, and metabolism-boosting peptides. , along with powerful antioxidants and alkaline minerals. This raw whey protein concentrate has been found to have a variety of health benefits: A. Helps maintain blood sugar level after a meal by helping insulin work more effectively. Studies show that lowering blood sugar after meals may be more beneficial to your health than lowering it through fasting. Promoting proper insulin secretion is imperative for optimal health. B. Helps promote the assimilation of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals necessary for your general well-being. C. Supports your immune system and contains immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, are glycoprotein molecules produced by plasma cells (white blood cells). They act as a critical part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens, such as bacteria or viruses, and assisting in their destruction. D. Helps preserve lean body tissue by providing bioavailable cysteine and amino acids. Finally, these cold-processed whey proteins will help maintain blood pressure levels that are already within normal ranges.
On the other hand, “most commercial whey powders undergo high heat treatment, are acid cleaned, and are stripped of vital nutrients, creating an acidic and unbalanced” whey isolate “that is often It contaminates with synthetic additives, chemical detergents, and heavy metals. It’s no wonder that many of these whey products are difficult to digest and have to coat their sour aftertaste with unhealthy sweeteners and artificial flavors, “says Dr. Joseph Mercola. So what can a person do? I feel lost and I don’t want to waste my time reading hundreds of articles or supplement labels trying to sift through all this mud. Herein lies the secret of a highly respected Dr. “Check the PDCAAS of your protein powder. It is the internationally accepted standard for protein quality. A perfect score is 1.0. Only Juice Plus + Complete has a score of 1.0 and is it is the only plant protein powder to have achieved that rating; the highest quality protein a human can consume. ” Dr. Rick Dubois, MD, there is one study in particular that I will mention here: A study of 59 healthy law school students was conducted at the University of Florida and published in The Journal of Nutrition in October 2006. Researchers looked at the students’ blood after 7 weeks of taking this plant-based protein powder, and they found a 30% increase in circulating gamma delta-T cells, an important indicator of immune function. They also reported a 40% reduction in DNA strand breaks. (DNA is the basic genetic “building block” of our bodies). Both of these findings are indications of how adding good whole food nutrition works at the cellular level to make us healthier. The good nutrition added in this case came from plant-based protein powder.
After reading to this point, I’m sure your common sense agrees that it’s important to use a brand that is pesticide-free and made from plants that have not been heat-treated or fortified with hormones and antibiotics. Right?