Whey Concentrate vs Whey Isolate: Which is better?

Whey protein and its benefits are known to many. It is a popular supplement used by many fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and athletes. For those who want to enhance muscle growth and muscle recovery, whey protein serves as the aptest solution. Whey protein is rich in amino acids and is quickly digested.

Protein makes for a very essential macronutrient that we must consume to help provide strength to our muscles and enhance muscle growth. Protein is helpful in building lean muscle mass and also helps with weight management. Whey protein out of various other proteins is considered the best protein.

Whey protein not only helps in building muscles, but it also helps in: 

• Enhancing muscle protein synthesis
• Boosting fat burn
• Enhancing the immune system
• Reducing hunger
• Improving insulin sensitivity

The sports and fitness market today is flooded with various whey protein powders available in a variety of flavors and forms. Whey protein can be broadly categorized into 3 categories:

• Whey protein concentrate
• Whey protein isolate
• Whey protein hydrolysate

Out of these 3, the most popular ones are whey concentrate and whey isolate. In this article, we will be talking about whey protein concentrate and whey isolate and try to understand the differences and whether one is better than the other.

Fitness freaks are head over heels for both the versions of whey protein. Both of them serve the same purpose of building muscles, enhancing muscle size and speeding up muscle recovery. The reason people prefer one over the other is due to a few differences in their nutrition profile.

When we tell you that there is a difference in nutritional profile, that doesn’t mean that one is inferior in comparison to the other. Let’s understand the difference between the two:

Whey protein, as we know, is derived from milk sources. It is obtained while the separation of curd from milk and during the cheese-making process. The watery portion left behind is whey. This liquid whey is processed to be converted into powdered form, as we know it to be, and then sold in the market with various modifications.

Whey concentrate

Whey protein concentrate contains around 60-85% protein and the remaining ratio comprises fats, lactose, and carbs. Whey protein concentrate tastes good and provides all the benefits of whey protein and helps in muscle building. Along with it, whey protein concentrate is also known to increase the production of glutathione- the key antioxidant of our body.

Whey Isolate

Whey isolate is obtained from whey concentrate. The difference lies in the processing of these two. Whey isolate goes through a rigorous filtration process and this leaves it with a higher amount of protein and a lower amount of fats, carbs, and lactose. On the taste part, whey isolate tastes smoother than whey concentrate. It can contain up to 95% protein depending on the filtration process.

Whey isolate also provides all the benefits of whey protein.

Whey isolate has minimal lactose content thus it is a perfect choice for lactose-intolerant people. People who are looking forward to cutting down on their calorie intake and follow a low-calorie diet can also choose whey isolate as it contains very low fat and carbs percentage. Whey isolate is priced more than whey concentrate owing to the added cost of manufacturing.

Whey protein concentrate has higher lactose, fats and carbs content as compared to whey isolate. If you look that way, the amount of these elements present in whey concentrate is not much and these are also beneficial for your body. Apart from protein, your body needs other nutrients too, and whey protein concentrate offers you that. So if calorie intake is not your problem, you can go for whey protein concentrate.

Here, the point to be noted is that, when the protein is denatured, there are no changes made to its amino acid sequences and the muscle-building qualities of the protein stays unaffected.

Whey concentrate or Whey isolate: Which one should you choose?

You should choose your whey protein while considering your goals, budget, and any allergies. Whey protein concentrate can create troubles for those who have low tolerance towards lactose. Such people might suffer from digestive issues if consuming whey concentrate. For them, whey isolate is a wiser choice. The muscle-building process won’t experience any change whether consuming whey isolate or concentrate.

If budget is your constraint, you might find whey concentrate to be more budget-friendly. If you are calorie conscious and restricting your carb intake, whey isolate would suit your needs and goals.

Whey isolates get absorbed faster than whey concentrate and create a more thorough insulin response. Whether the changes in the rates of absorption have any effect on the anabolism, is yet a debatable issue.

If you want to limit insulin spikes, you can avoid whey isolates considering their effects on insulin release.

The Crux

Both forms of whey protein have similar benefits to offer you. Both help in muscle building and muscle recovery. So we cannot say that one is better than the other. Both have their unique properties and it depends on your situation and priority that which one will you choose.

If you don’t have milk allergies, whey protein concentrate is a good choice for you. Your body will get other important nutrients along with protein. If the budget is not your constraint and you also face lactose intolerance, whey isolate would be a better choice as it offers faster absorption and better digestion.

Bonus section

Still worried about the digestion part?

We have the ultimate solution for you- MuscleBlaze Biozyme Whey Isolate. A whey protein supplement made from the finest quality whey isolate, designed exclusively for Indian dietary habits. Indian diet often misses out on protein and thus we, Indians, face issues with protein digestion. MuscleBlaze has made a significant effort in reducing this problem by crafting a protein exclusively for Indian bodies.

It is enriched with EAF (Enhanced Absorption Formula) by MuscleBlaze, which gives you 50% higher absorption than other whey isolates. With MuscleBlaze Biozyme Whey Isolate, experience 60% lower stomach discomfort and 60% higher BCAA absorption.

Don’t worry about the cramps and any other issues and just focus on your goal with MuscleBlaze Biozyme Whey Isolate.

We have for you a solution to India’s Protein Problem.