Knowing your whey round

Knowing the difference between whey protein sources WPC and WPI could save the average consumer hard-earned money, according to food scientist and champion bodybuilder Eric McEntyre.

 

Protein, Eric says, is the foundation for decreased body fat and increased lean muscle mass. Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) and Whey Protein Isolate (WPI) are two of the most concentrated sources of protein available today.

 

Closely matched with Whey Protein Isolate for health and bodybuilding benefits, Whey Protein Concentrate contains slightly more fat – the decisive factor for many who opt for WPI. But as Eric explains few are aware of WPC's unique growth and immune benefits.

 

"Whey protein was initially a waste product of the dairy industry that was dumped in lakes and streams. Whey protein was a source of pollution due to its organic matter that decreased oxygen available to plants and animals.

 

"Since those days dairy manufacturers have developed various methods of filtration and extraction to increase the concentration (purity) of whey protein. Ultrafiltration and ion exchange methods were based on the physical properties of the protein molecule such as its size or ionic charge respectively.

 

"Whey protein isolates developed from ion exchange separation techniques generally contain lower quantities of lactoferrin, proteose peptone and glycomacropeptides. Heat and acid processed whey protein, sometimes called lactalbumin, contains denatured (protein structural changes which destroy the desired bioactivity) whey which decreases its nutritional quality.

 

"In contrast, whey protein concentrates, which are usually developed by ultrafiltration, contain slightly higher fat and lactose contents yet maintain a higher quantity of the bioactive lactoferrin, proteose peptone and glycomacropeptides. The fat content is necessary because the growth factors such as IGF-1 are bound and encapsulated by it. If the fat is removed the anabolic components are also removed.

 

"A high quality whey protein supplement contains high quantities of growth and immune system promoting fractions such as lactoferrin. Whey protein concentrates, as in Perfect Protein, contain double the amount of health promoting immunoglobulins than most whey protein isolates.

 

"A high quality whey protein isolate product, such as Aussie Bodies' Whey Protein Isolate (WPI), will be cold filtered and non-ionised to decrease denaturation and it will contain the various lactalbumin, lactoferrin and immunoglobulins. One way to get this is by adding whey protein concentrate to increase the quantity of growth and immune system support."

 

"When you're juggling your busy daily schedule between family and friends, work and/or school and finally the gym, the precious time you spend working out has to provide optimum results," Eric says.

 

"The money you spend on supplements has to buy the right supplements for optimal gains and recovery."