Today there are thousands of different protein supplements available on the market. Some are outstanding, some are ok and some are pretty useless. For sure, certain protein supplements can offer slightly different benefits, which you will be able to learn the basics of in this article.
            The most common variations of protein supplements include whey protein, whey protein isolate and casein. Each and every one of these protein types all has great benefits. However the problem is that the standard of the ingredients are somewhat lacking on occasions, where you are not getting nearly enough protein per serving. As rule of thumb bodybuilders need at least 1.5g of protein per pound of body weight, therefore whatever protein supplement you choose it needs to be able to deliver this. For example, if you need 300g of protein a day and you get 200g from your food, you need a supplement that can deliver the other 100g in around 3 shakes throughout the day and in between your meals.

           Perhaps the most common variety of protein supplement is whey protein, a favorite amongst the bodybuilding world. This is because it is fast digesting and has one of the highest bioavailability ratings out of all protein sources. As a result supplementing your diet with whey protein will lead to some great gains. This is because a fast digesting protein such as whey protein elevates your protein synthesis levels which mean you’re able to gain more from the rest of your protein intake as your able to assimilate a higher percentage of your dietary proteins. Whey protein is also perfect for when you need to shuttle protein into your body as fast as possible, such as first thing in the morning or right after training.

            Whey protein isolate in basic terms is an improvement on whey protein. Basically the protein molecules are ‘super small’ which means that they are able to be digested at an even faster rate than basic whey protein. As a result whey protein isolate is able to elevate your protein synthesis levels even higher, having a more significant impact on your muscle growth and recovery. However, the face off between straight whey protein and whey protein isolate is that isolate can be significantly more expensive. Also, another trick to watch is that many companies put just a fraction of isolate in with whey in order to market it as an isolate supplement so be sure to check it out first and ask the experts at KagedMuscle! However, if there is an isolate supplement which is genuine and better than the straight whey equivalent it is best if possible to make that little extra investment. Every minor detail all adds up when you’re looking to break new grounds with your physique.

            Casein is then at the other end of the spectrum to both whey protein and whey isolate protein in terms of the rate it is digested. Casein is a very slow digesting protein which is ideal for use throughout the day, before training and particularly before bed time. This is because whilst Casein doesn’t elevate your protein synthesis levels as much as whey does, it does maintain those levels for longer periods of time. Therefore it stands to reason Casein is able to maintain a certain level of anabolic activity within your body. Casein is a perfect protein to use throughout the day alongside whey or whey isolate because it drip feeds your muscles, which means that there is no chance of catabolism setting it. To add to this, you will notice that your recovery levels will drastically improve when using Casein.

            With that been said it can be beneficial to use a protein supplement which contains both whey and Casein in order to get the most out of both! Combined your protein synthesis levels will be a lot higher whilst the Casein makes sure they remain high.

            Make sure when you are buying a pure protein supplement that it is just that. Many companies bulk out protein supplements with cheap sugar carbohydrates and other inferior ingredients which increase the calorie content of the product and leave you vulnerable to fat gain. Pure protein supplements should be high in protein, very low in carbohydrates, sugars and calories.

            There you have a brief insight into the most popular varieties of protein supplements on the market and what to look out for.

‘Knowledge is power’ Team KagedMuscle