Maximum health benefits are what everyone is looking for in their supplements. And in the realm of competitive bodybuilding or body sculpting, the words WHEY PROTEIN are heard with reverence. But even for the average gym rat or joe looking to optimize their health goals, whey protein is often a critical component of their supplement regimen. Passed? But are all whey proteins created equal? The truth is, many of the brands (and even many of the natural brands in health food stores) are using an inferior source of whey protein, which has resulted in this nutritional supplement getting a bad rap.
Who here likes yogurt? Ok, it’s not that important, but for example… have you ever noticed the liquid on top of natural yogurt when you open it? That’s whey protein in its original form. Why are you paying so much money for protein powers when it’s all liquid whey that has gone through a drying process to remove all the water and turn it into a powder? Good question and I suggest that some of the most expensive are the least beneficial. A Consumer Reports test showed that 3 of 15 protein drinks tested contained dangerous levels of arsenic, cadmium and lead. All of these factors make them inferior from a health standpoint.
Let’s take a moment on a very important tangent and just give you the “juice” in your selection of whey protein, or should I say “Complete+” protein shakes. 1. It’s all about the source, and if the source is contaminated, so is the final powder. So start with grass-fed farms. This means all-natural grass-fed whey, NOT pesticide-treated, grain-fed whey. Grass-fed cows produce whey that: A. is nutritionally superior to grain-fed cows. B. Contains an impressive amino acid profile and immune-supporting nutrients. C. It is rich in healthy fats: linoleic acid and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid)
Well, are you still with us? Here is the second tip! 2. Non-GMO, choose whey made without GMOs. Next up is RAW – which is normally also considered cold processed. This is a very critical component to consider when selecting your whey, because heat-processed whey: A. Makes the whey acidic and nutritionally deficient. B. Harms immune supporting micronutrients. C. Makes the whey unsuitable for consumption. D. And I’ve even read that some studies have found it to be carcinogenic; while cold-processed whey protects the nutrients in their natural state. 3. Your whey should be concentrated, not isolated. An isolate is protein stripped of its nutritional cofactors or phytonutrients. This creates some serious problems: A. All isolates are exposed to acid processing. B. Your body cannot assimilate protein in isolation. Therefore, there is no bioavailability. C. Because they are over-processed, the isolates turn out to be deficient in key amino acids and other nutritional enzymes. The bonus tip of the year would be to avoid serum that contains heavy metals. An evaluation by Consumer Reports showed that some leading brands of protein powders exceeded the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) recommended safety limits for certain heavy metals. You want to avoid these products at all costs because any high concentration of heavy metals taken over time could have serious health consequences.
Commonly, whey protein is derived from milk during cheese making, through a natural fermentation process. But later on, we will introduce you to the concept of plant-based protein powder. But for now, let’s talk about the raw processing difference, because it applies to both! When whey protein is processed at low temperatures (raw or cold-processed), it retains many of its fragile immune factors and nutrients, leaving it loaded with the ideal combination of easily absorbed amino acids, anti-inflammatory immune factors, and metabolism-boosting peptides. , along with powerful antioxidants and alkaline minerals. This raw whey protein concentrate has been found to have a variety of health benefits: A. Helps maintain blood sugar after a meal by helping insulin work more effectively. Studies show that lowering blood sugar after meals may be more beneficial to health than doing so by fasting. Promoting proper insulin secretion is imperative for optimal health. B. Helps promote your assimilation of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals necessary for your general well-being. C. Strengthens your immune system and contains immunoglobulins. Immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, are glycoprotein molecules produced by plasma cells (white blood cells). They act as a fundamental part of the immune response by specifically recognizing and binding to particular antigens, such as bacteria or viruses, and aiding in their destruction. D. Helps preserve lean body tissue by providing bioavailable amino acids and cysteine. Finally, these cold-processed whey proteins will help maintain blood pressure levels that are already within normal ranges.
On the other hand, “most commercial whey powders are treated with high temperatures, acid washed, and stripped of vital nutrients, creating an unbalanced, acidic “whey isolate” that is often contaminated with synthetic additives, detergents chemicals and heavy metals. It’s no wonder many of these whey products are hard to digest and have to cover up their tart aftertaste with unhealthy sweeteners and artificial flavors,” says Dr. Joseph Mercola. So what is a person to do? I feel lost and don’t want to waste my time reading hundreds of articles and supplement labels trying to filter out all this muck. Herein lies the secret of a respected Dr. “Check the PDCAAS of your protein powder. It is the internationally accepted standard for protein quality. A perfect score is 1.0. Only Juice Plus+Complete has a score of 1.0 and is the The only plant protein powder to achieve that rating – the highest quality protein a human being can consume.” Dr. Rick Dubois, MD, there is one study in particular that I will mention here: a study of 59 healthy law school students was conducted at the University of Florida and published in The Journal of Nutrition in October 2006. Researchers looked at students’ blood after 7 weeks of taking this plant-based protein powder, and found a 30% increase in circulating gamma delta T cells, an important indicator of immune function. They also reported a 40% reduction in DNA strand breaks. (DNA is the basic genetic “building block” of our bodies.) Both findings are indications of how the addition of good whole food nutrition works at the cellular level to make us healthier. The added good nutrition in this case came from the plant-based protein powder.
After reading up to this point, I’m sure your common sense agrees that it’s important to use a brand that is free of pesticides and made from plants that have not been heat-treated or fortified with hormones and antibiotics. Right?