3 Things to Be Careful About When Choosing Protein Supplement

Before choosing a protein supplement a few things should be considered. There are many protein supplements in the market nowadays, and many new companies are springing up
every day because the industry is thriving.

Chocolate protein powder; image source dailyburn.com

While feeding your muscles the right way has never been easier, not all protein supplements are designed equally and for the same purpose. Therefore choosing a product that is best for you and your particular goal, be it weight loss or muscle building, can be a bit of a struggle.

Let’s take a closer look at some specifics when chosing the best muscle building protein powder supplements.

The Amino Acid Content

The amino acid that is present in the supplement you are buying is very important. If the product has 100% whey, having at least 75% of the total mass of protein and 25% non-protein represents a good yield.

Amino acids are classified into two groups so it is important you know which group the amino acid of the product you are buying belongs. We have the BCAA as well as the EAA amino acid classification (BCAA stands for Branch Chain Amino Acids while EAA stands for Essential Amino Acids). Both types of amino acids are very important.

The BCAA function specifically as carriers of nitrogen, which in turn help muscles to synthesize other vital amino acids needed for anabolic (body building) process to occur. In addition, these amino acids during a fat-reduction cycle will act in an anti-catabolic way to help the body by sparing lean muscle tissue.

The EAA just as the name implies are very essential. Their absence leads to protein breakdown which results in muscle loss as well as a problem with the repair. Examples of amino acids include Lysine, Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Valine and a host of others.

So before you settle for any protein supplement, find out the amino acid it contains. There are 20 different amino acids found in protein, but each of them functions differently.

The WPI & WPC Ratio

All proteins will not function the same way. They function based on the type of protein supplement one buys, and how the product was made. Whey protein, on the other hand, comes in different forms.

  • Ion Exchange Whey Protein Isolate (WPI)
  • Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC)
  • Hydrolyzed Whey Peptide (HWP)
  • Cross Flow Micro-filtered Whey Protein Isolate (CFM)

The two factors that distinguish these types of whey protein are the molecule size, as well as the digestibility in the gut. If the molecule is small, then it can be digested easily.

WPI has higher Biological Value (BV) rating than WPC. And because of this, some persons have concluded that WPC is inferior or filler. The reason is due to its low biological value compared to WPI.

Taste

Different protein supplements have different taste. It all depends on the manufacturer and the constituent of the product. We often see products with labels that say, “Mouthwatering taste” but taste very bad.

You can ask fellow bodybuilders, friends, and family about how a product taste. If it tastes awful and you think you can cope with that, then it is your choice.

Conclusion

There are many things to consider when choosing protein supplement. And we have listed some of the key things to help you make an informed decision when buying a protein supplement.

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