What’s the Deal with Different Whey Proteins?
Written by: Coach Slater
Quick post to answer a question I’ve overhead about whey proteins: “What’s the difference between whey concentrate, whey isolate, and whey hydrolysate?”
First, there’s major marketing dollars behind protein supplements, so brands may want you to believe that one or the other is far superior. In reality, the differences in absorption rates seem to be extremely minute, so it doesn’t appear that there’s really a difference between any of them. All three can result in muscle growth, but there are some differences in lactose, fat, and carb content.
Whey Concentrate
This version is typically 80% protein by weight, and contains some carbs (in the form of lactose) and fat. It’s generally the cheapest whey protein out there.
Whey Isolate
This version is more than 90% protein by weight, so you get more protein per scoop compared to the Concentrate. One version of isolate is called “ion exchange” which just means it’s lost some important recovery substances during production. The other version of isolate is “cross-flow microfiltration” which maintains some integrity during production and is more easily digestible with essentially no carbs or fat.
Whey Hydrolysate
This version is predigested so it will absorb faster into your bloodstream compared to the other two, but how much faster is up for debate, and since you only workout once a day, it probably doesn’t even matter. Nonetheless, this supposed speed increase is the primary reason it costs more than the other versions.
Bottom Line
As long as you don’t mind the few extra grams of carbs and fat, and you’re not lactose intolerant, whey concentrate is the most economical choice for you. The protein we sell at Derby City, from Stronger Faster Healthier, is a whey concentrate made from grass-fed cows. Is the fact that it’s grass-fed important for your whey protein? Frankly, not really… but, until we find a better protein alternative, we trust SFH and trust that each scoop gets you the amount of protein it says you’re getting – which we can’t say with every brand.