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Popular whey protein supplements put to the test...

Over the past few years, whey protein supplements have become increasingly popular with anyone who wants to lose fat and build muscle. Unfortunately, the confusing blend of ingredients in many supplements makes it very difficult for most people to make an educated decision about what to buy.

Whey protein supplements

Many studies show that protein needs are greater for people who exercise [9]. Of course, while it's possible to get more protein from food, it's certainly not easy or convenient. As a result, many people rely on whey protein supplements to meet their protein needs.

One of the reasons for the popularity of whey protein supplements is their high biological value. Biological value is used to measure the quality of protein. Foods with a high biological value are considered to be higher in quality, as they contain all nine essential amino acids. Foods with a low biological value don't contain all of the essential amino acids.

You might be aware that a difference exists between protein derived from animal sources and protein derived from plant sources. Because protein from most plants lacks certain amino acids, it has a lower biological value than protein from animal sources. In fact, a recent study shows that men consuming a diet containing meat gained slightly more muscle and strength than those following a meat-free diet [4].

In much the same way, companies that sell whey protein supplements maintain that there are major differences between the various types of whey you can buy. But how much of this is based on fact, and how much is simply advertising hype?

Should you buy a whey protein concentrate, a whey protein isolate or a combination of the two? Is hydrolyzed whey protein any better? Do the benefits of whey protein supplements that contain added ingredients — such as 5-methyl-7-methoxy-isoflavone — really justify the extra cost? What about NITRO-Tech®? Is it really "24 times" better than regular whey? Maybe you should ditch the whey protein supplements altogether, and choose a supplement that contains a so-called "slow" protein, such as micellar casein?

The search for answers isn't made easy by magazines and websites that rely heavily on advertising revenue from companies selling whey protein supplements. A single page advert in a glossy magazine costs a lot of money. Many websites will publish anything in an attempt to attract advertising revenue.

Given the choice between running an advert for a protein supplement or a factual article, most magazines will run the advert. Either that, or they'll use a heavily edited article that won't discourage potential advertisers. What's more, many magazines and websites are owned by the same people who sell whey protein supplements. Their content is often little more than adverts disguised as articles designed to convey an impartial image.

To make a more informed decision about the benefits (and downsides) of whey protein supplements, it helps to be armed with a little more knowledge about how they're made...

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