Whey protein is something that most athletes, fitness fanatics and professionals will agree is a beneficial supplement to have in your diet. In this FridayFocus we’re going to highlight the pros of whey protein, besides the obvious reason that it’s a quick and simple way of consuming more protein.
The first benefit of whey protein is its ability to diminish hunger and make you feel full. This is because protein causes reduced levels of ghrelin, which is the chemical that tells your brain that you’re hungry. Depending on your training and nutrition goals, it will help you feel less hungry and more satisfied.
The second benefit of whey protein is that it can help you lose fat without losing muscle. Most fitness models will agree that cutting down your body fat whilst keeping your muscle mass can be an agonising task, however consuming appropriate levels of whey protein will mean your muscles are still getting the protein they need to effectively carry on growing or remain the same size.
The third benefit of whey protein is that it helps reduce stress levels and fight depression because it can increase levels of serotonin in the brain, which is the chemical that causes happiness.
The fourth benefit is its ability to increase size and muscle mass. Whey protein is absorbed into the bloodstream extremely quickly, which means it reaches your muscles very quickly after training. By getting to your muscles so rapidly it jump-starts protein synthesis. During protein synthesis the amino acids in protein are used to build and repair muscles that have been broken during gym sessions.
The final benefit of whey protein is that it can improve your immune system. Extensive exercise can reduce levels of glutathione, which can negatively impact your nervous and immune system. However, whey protein can significantly increase levels of glutathione, directly counteracting the lower levels experienced after strenuous activities.
Whey protein is something which everyone should look at incorporating into their diet, if they feel they’re not getting enough protein from their food, and that’s why we use it in our own products.