Resources

Whey Concentrate – When milk gets processed, it will produce 2 separate products: whey and casein. Whey concentrate contains 70-80% whey and has a slower absorption/digestion rate than the other types of whey protein. It does have more carbs and milk lactose, but is the least costly to make – hence the lower price. This protein powder would be ideal for beginners in training, or people who want a slower absorption time and a longer source of amino acids throughout the day.

Whey Isolate – The additional processing and filtration of the whey produces a product that contains 90% whey per serving plus lower carbohydrates and lactose than whey concentrates. This allows the isolate protein to not only be absorbed quicker, but more effectively too. Ideally whey isolate protein should be taken just after your training/workout to replace and repair the targeted muscles.

Hydrolyzed Whey Isolate – During processing, the whey peptide chains are partially digested and broken down into smaller chains. These smaller chains allow it to be absorbed faster and offer more bioavailability than the other whey products. Hydrolyzed whey builds muscle the best, promotes faster recovery, and has the least amount of lactose. All this additional processing makes hydrolyzed whey the most expensive product too. This should also be taken after your training session.

Whey Blends – These protein products are a combination of 2 or more protein types. The result is you get the effects of both protein products in each serving. The only disadvantage is that some manufacturers put a lot of additives in the mixture so read your labels carefully!