Protein Powders
Protein Powders have long be the obsession of bodybuilders as it is one of the best weight gain supplements. Whey Protein (in the form of concentrate, isolate, or hydrolyzed) in particular has been the #1 selling source of protein powder. However, through the mass marketing techniques of the companies that distribute their versions of whey protein, it makes it very difficult for the users of whey protein to determine if one company’s product is actually better than anther companies product. For example, does a huge company like Twinlab have the capability to make a better whey protein than a smaller company? This article will make it easy for the bodybuilder who chooses to use whey protein to determine which companies sells high quality whey protein and which companies try to sell you on “hype”.
To understand the quality of whey protein one must first have a little idea about how whey protein is made.
Whey protein comes from cow milk. Certain cow’s product better quality milk than others. Most of the exceptional higher quality milk is used for baby formulas (The #1 use of whey protein). The rest is used for nutritional formulas.
The whey, casein, and other milk by-products are separated from the milk and converted into powdered form using certain technical procedures. These procedures are as follows and in order: diafiltration, concentration, isolation, and hydrolization.
First is diafiltration, this is the beginning phase of making whey protein powdered. The powder is high in lactose and possesses a protein % of approximately 35%. NO supplement companies use this version of protein.
The next step in concentration. (whey concentrate/WPC) This process converts the whey powder to possess a protein percentage of anywhere from 35% to 85%. A few years ago, this CONCENTRATION process was the #1 choice of supplement companies to use. The price of making this whey protein with a protein percentage of about 80% is about $3.00 per pound. The supplement companies were making a huge profit and robbing consumer’s blind. Now keep in mind that a higher protein percentage the higher the cost. Thus if a supplement company wanted to make more money they would buy a lower percentage protein. This version of whey protein (concentration) is also to be blamed for the digestive problems associated with lactose, such as gas and diaherra.
The next processing step after concentration is isolation (whey isolate/ WPI) This process separates all of the lactose and fat from the protein. The protein percentage is brought up to over 90% and highest of 96%. No whey protein is 100% protein. This process cost twice the amount to make compared to whey concentrate. Thus it is the main reason supplement companies did not use it at first until consumers realized this version of whey protein existed and they were forced to use it.
The last step in the process of whey protein is hydrolyzation. In this process an enzyme is added to the powder to break down the larger peptides molecules and form smaller di and tri peptides to make the protein more digestible. The #1 reasons the manufacturer use this process is to make hypoallergenic baby formulas. If you don’t believe me go look down your grocery store aisle and take a look. This version of whey protein is rarely used because of several reasons: Price and taste. This process is very technical and will be explained in later articles. UNLESS a supplement company claims to use this protein.
Versions of whey
All of the processes described above are the steps in extracting the protein from the whey. BUT the extracting techniques can differ. They are as follows: Ion-exchange, ultrafiltration, and Cross-Flow Microfiltration. THAT’S IT. I repeat, THAT’S IT. Supplement companies will try to enhance the description of their whey protein by using fancy scientific words. For example: Quadrafiltration, peptide containing, low-molecular weight, and whey complex..Etc.
The highest quality whey protein for bodybuilders would be a combination of CFM whey isolate and a small amount of hydrolyzed whey protein. It also must NOT contain any whey protein concentrate.
Here is our best answer in what we have found from reading the labels of vary whey protein products. I have made my recommendations
*= Don’t buy because the company is being deceitful
**=Buy if you want cheap whey protein concentrate
***=Buy if you want a decent whey protein
****=Buy if you want a high quality whey protein
Sport Pharma
Simple whey protein concentrate, I couldn’t tell what kind of process because it stated on the label “Specially Filtered”, which could mean nothing. It also labeled ion-exchange whey isolate next, but after calculating the protein % at a low 74%, I can guess it contains about nil isolate.
Rating **
Precision
Ultafiltration and ion-exchange whey isolate. If it claims what the label states it a good protein. BUT, when precision protein first came out in Feb of 1998, I think it contained CFM whey isolate, then it somehow disappeared from the list of ingredients. I have the article in Muscle Media touting it as a high containing protein sub-fraction protein. Yes, if it did contain CFM, but not now. CFM has the highest concentration of protein sub-fractions; you cannot add protein subfractions. Here’s my theory. I remember when the Precision Protein sold for like $29.99 at discount supplement dealers. Sales slumped because the price was too high, so to lower the price they had to remove the CFM whey isolate.
Rating ***
Designer Protein
Back in 1996 Designer listed on their label Hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate as their first ingredient. They have also stated in their advertisements that they were some how able to extract the bitter taste from the hydrolyzed whey protein. We have talked to manufacturers of hydrolyzed whey protein and they have disagreed with this statement. Besides that, they have since changed their label. They now label it as ion-exchange whey protein concentrate. Designers label is very hard to read. But to clear things up what whey peptides are is that they come from hydrolyzed whey proteins. You cannot buy from the manufactures whey peptides. You can buy specific whey peptides, like glutamine peptides, etc. But the only source of whey peptides comes from Hydrolyzed whey protein.
Rating **
AST
This one takes the cream of the crop. I don’t care how much sweetener you ad to a REAL hydrolyzed whey protein, its still undrinkable. Aspartame only gets so sweet. Well, I wont go on about this one anymore because, well just because.
Rating *
Optimum
Whey protein concentrate. They don’t list what kind of process, but instead list that it provides peptides. It also lists ion-exchange whey isolate, and hydrolyzed whey isolate. But the protein % is only 74%, very similar to Sportpharma. I wouldn’t be surprised if these two proteins came from the same blending facility
Rating **
Life Extension CFM whey isolate
This is a good quality protein. But too bad the dumb asses mislabeled their protein and tried to make it sound better than it really is. From reading this site you should know that when you add flavoring the protein % drops. So how does the LEF protein contain 18 grams of protein in a 20 grams serving size, because that equals 90%. Which is the max protein % of CFM whey isolate. Good protein though.
Rating ****
Betastatin
This isn’t a protein but an MRP, but allot of people have been asking me about it. First of all, the company is ex-cybergenics, that puts up a red flag already. If you don’t believe me look where they are located… The company is also known as Prosource, the mail order company. From reading this site you should know that you can either use CFM or ultrafiltration, not both, they use like a backslash so it’s hard to tell. The second ingredient is hydrolyzed whey peptides, sort of makes sense (good try guys). I don’t believe they use hydrolyzed whey though. I don’t understand why they had to put in WPC though, probably for mainly cost. They don’t tell you what kind of WPC. I wouldn’t buy this product, period.
Rating *
Pro-Fusion
Nothing makes me laugh harder when a company advertises that WPC is higher quality than WPI. Total Joke!!The only good thing about this product is that the company that owns this line of product puts Tylene Buck in a bikini the size of 3 tissues.
Rating*
In conclusion, not too many companies have quality whey proteins. And if they do, they try to lie on their labels to make their product seem better than it really is. Stick with whey isolate and you will have a quality whey protein without clearing the room with one of your protein farts.
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