The Best Whey Protein Concentrate

Buying Guide

Protein is important to life. Each of the body’s cells contains protein, and you may not be consuming enough of this important substance from your daily meals. Your daily protein intake will vary based on factors such as your body composition, age, weight and exercise levels.

If you find that you aren’t getting the recommended dose of protein through your diet, you can add a whey protein supplement to your daily regimen. While there are other protein sources, whey is preferable, thanks to its ability to digest quickly while being easy on the stomach.

When researching whey protein concentrate, first look to see that the product contains 100% whey with most of the whey coming from whey isolates. There are three types of whey (isolates, concentrates and hydrolysates), and the isolates contain the most protein. You’ll even find some whey protein powders are made using a nice blend with the majority of the protein coming from the isolates.

Check that the ingredients don’t interfere with your diet or known allergies. For example, some options are best for those who need a gluten-free, GMO-free, soy-free and artificial ingredient-free formula. Many are also cold-processed, which eliminates contamination from chemicals and toxins that some individuals may have a negative reaction to.

Next, if you’re an athlete, bodybuilder or exercise enthusiast, you’ll need to look at the amount of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in the formula, as these are important for building muscle. An amount of 5.5 grams or higher is what you want to shoot for. If the product label lists the amino acids separately, you’ll need to add them all up to get the total.

Lastly, you’ll want to check for your favorite flavor (or taste test a few until you find your favorite). Some brands only offer two or three flavor profiles, while others have as many as 20. You may wish to use one flavor for shakes and smoothies and another flavor for baking.

• Always check for artificial ingredients and sugar content before deciding on a whey protein concentrate. This is especially important if you have a condition like diabetes or are allergic to dyes. Some brands sneak these not-so-beneficial ingredients into their formulas, so it’s always best to read the product label thoroughly.
• Since whey protein concentrate is food, it does have an expiration date. There are a few things you can do to keep the product fresh for a long period of time. First, don’t transfer the powder into a new container. The original packaging is designed to keep moisture out. Second, place the protein powder in a location that is both cool and dry. In addition to water, heat can affect the supplement in a negative way.
• Keep the whey protein powder out of the reach of children. Consuming too much of it at once can be harmful. Most of these supplements are not meant to be used by anyone under the age of 18.
• Clumps within the powder and unpleasant odors are two signs that your whey protein concentrate has gone bad. This is true whether the product has reached its expiration date or not. If this happens, throw the container away and purchase a new one.
• Get your family physician’s approval before adding any type of supplement to your diet, including whey protein concentrate. You want to make sure the formula you choose doesn’t interact with any of your medications. For example, whey protein stops the absorption of Levodopa, Formax and Tetracycline antibiotics.
• Make sure the formula you use has been tested for banned substances. This ensures the product doesn’t contain any ingredients that would cause you to have a failed urine test for work or a competitive sports program.
• You don’t just have to use whey protein powder to make shakes and smoothies. You can also use them in food recipes, such as peanut butter cups, blueberry muffins and fudge brownies. If you prefer, you can also sprinkle the powder on top of your cereal, oatmeal or ice cream. It even mixes well with a small container of yogurt or an applesauce cup.
• When considering the price of whey protein concentrate, you need to look at how many servings you get from the product. Then, you’ll need to divide the number of servings by the purchase price to see who has the most affordable protein powder.