The protein element of whey is highly digestible and has been found to be a valuable health and nutritional supplement. Whey is a component of milk. It’s a by-product of cheese production, being the watery substance that remains after milk has been curdled. In addition to protein, whey also contains water, lactose, minerals and fat.

Whey protein is made up of a number of components. Beta-lactoglobulin makes up around half of whey protein. It reportedly aids vitamin availability by binding the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.

Whey protein also contains essential and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs). Around a third of our skeletal muscle is made up of BCAAs. This is one of the reasons that whey protein powder is a valuable supplement if you’re a body builder or other athlete needing to increase your strength. It is believed that whey protein can speed up the development of muscle and also aid recovery after exercise.

One of the amino acids in whey protein is cysteine. Cysteine is involved in the formation of glutathione, an antioxidant that protects our cells against damage by free radicals as well as such things as UV exposure, infection and toxins. Age-related diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s have been associated with low glutathione levels, which can also lead to poor performance in athletes.

So whether you’re looking for a protein source to help keep you healthy in your everyday life or you’re an athlete looking to perform at your peak, whey protein powder could be a useful source of this essential nutrient.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 24th, 2008 at 8:39 am and is filed under Nutrition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.