Whey Isolate
Why Whey Isolate?
Whey protein comes in two main forms: whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. Whey Isolate is the more pure of the two with about 20% more pure protein than concentrate. The difference is in the way they are processed from raw whey. Raw whey contains alot of fat and lactose (milk sugar) and is pretty unfit for bodybuilders. But once it is processed to remove the unwanted materials it becomes an excellent supplementary source of protein.
The process used to make whey protein isolate results in a purer form of protein than whey concentrate but is also more expensive. However, since whey isolate is more pure it also contains less lactose. This is useful fo people who are lactose intolerant and are prone to gas and bloating when taking protein supplements.
Advantages
- More pure protein than concentrate
- Better for lactose intolerant people
Disadvantages
- More expensive
Choosing whey protein isolate
So does this mean that you should go for whey isolate instead of whey concentrate all the time? Not necessarily. Good quality whey concentrate will give you enough protein for the average athelete or bodybuilder anyway. While whey isolate is indeed purer, it also is more expensive and for most people, the extra protein does not justify the added cost. For those who are lactose intolerant however, whey isolate may be more suitable than whey concentrate due to having less lactose.