COMPLETE GUIDE TO

PROTEINAN EXPLANATION OF PROTEIN POWDER SELECTION & TIMING

Basics

Protein is an essential nutrient and a key component of a healthy diet. It provides amino acids for numerous physiological functions including muscle building and maintenance and supporting the prevention of muscle loss. Adequate protein consumption can be beneficial for numerous types of athletes and active people. For bodybuilders, or physique athletes, adequate protein consumption is the cornerstone of their diet and one of the main tools in the quest for larger muscles and a lean physique. Endurance athletes may also benefit from diets consisting of optimal amounts of protein. Recovery is a central focus of the endurance athlete and the consumption of adequate protein can help aid that process. Team sports athletes, which often use a combination of endurance and strength exercise, can also benefit from optimal protein intake for these same reasons. The aging population, primarily consisting of the “baby boomer” generation, can encounter unique challenges including muscle loss and declines in strength as part of the normal aging process. Protein, accompanied with strength training, can be of great benefit to this age group because it can help maintain muscle mass and strength as part of a healthy diet and exercise program.

What Benefits does protein have in the body?

of Protein

A QUICK LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT

TYPES OF PROTEIN

Casein Proteins About 80% of the protein in milk is casein.

Often referred to as a “slower-acting”

protein because it is digested and absorbed

more slowly than other proteins like whey,

casein proteins are especially useful when

taken at bedtime or in between meals,

so that amino acids can be delivered to

muscles for a longer period of time. When

casein is consumed it enters the stomach

where it mixes with stomach acid to form

a “clump,” which takes longer to digest and

empty from the stomach compared to other

proteins that don’t clump. Whey does not

exhibit these properties, and therefore is

absorbed faster than casein.

Egg PROTEINS Egg is a complete protein meaning that it

contains all of the essential amino acids

required by your body for protein synthesis.

Additionally, eggs are dairy-free, highly bio-

available, and a great alternative to whey,

casein, and whole milk proteins for those

with milk allergies or lactosese sitivity.

SOY ProteinsSoy protein is the only naturally occurring

non-animal based source of complete

protein. This means that it provides

all of your essential amino acids and is

vegetarian/vegan friendly. Soy can be a

great alternative for vegetarians looking

to supplement their diet with protein.

BEEF ProteinsBeef protein is a complete protein that

provides all of your body’s essential amino

acids. Beef protein supplementation

provides an additional protein alternative

to consuming dairy as part of your protein

supplementation regimen.

PLANT ProteinsPlant sources of protein can potentially

include rice, pea, hemp, potato, alfalfa,

chia, flax, and more. Plant protein provides

an additional alternative source of non-

dairy protein supplementation and may

include additional beneficial components

that naturally occur in the plant.

Whey Proteins About 20% of the protein in milk is whey. Whey proteins are quickly and easily digested

(hence the “fast-acting” description that they’re often given), and they have Essential

Amino Acids (EAAs) – including the three Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) and oth-

er microfractions. Because whey protein is quickly digested, amino acids are delivered

quickly to muscles to help start the muscle building process.

TYPES OF PROTEININ SUPPLEMENTS

HWPIHydrolyzed Whey Protein Isolate – HWPI is

whey protein isolate that has been further

broken down into smaller components called

peptides that are easier to digest allowing

for fast absorption into the bloodstream.

WPIWhey Protein Isolate – WPI is a concentrated

whey protein that contains greater than

90% whey protein. Isolate protein contains

less fat, cholesterol, and carbohydrates

than its concentrate counterpart, so WPI

may be a good option for someone watching

their fat and carb intake.

WPCWhey Protein Concentrate - WPC is a

concentrated whey product that contains

40-90% whey protein

MPI Milk Protein Isolate – MPI is a concentrated

milk product that contains greater than

90% milk protein

MPC Milk Protein Concentrate – MPC is a

concentrated milk product that contains

40-90% milk protein.

Micellar CaseinMicellar Casein is the slowest digesting

form of casein. It is separated from milk

through an ultrafiltration process. One

of Micellar Casein’s unique properties

is its ability to gel during digestion so it

can release a steady flow of amino acids

over several hours.

THE ISOLATE VERSIONS OF WHEY

AND MILK PROTEINS GENERALLY

HAVE FEWER CARBOHYDRATES AND

FAT THAN THEIR CONCENTRATED

COUNTERPARTS. THIS MAY BE MORE

SUITABLE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS

LOOKING TO GET PROTEIN WITHOUT

THE EXTRA FAT AND CARBS. THE

ISOLATE VERSIONS MAY ALSO BE

BENEFICIAL FOR SOMEONE WHO IS

TRYING TO CONSUME LESS LACTOSE.

TECHNICAL TALKPURE PROTEIN PERCENTAGE is another way to compare proteins. While the Nutrition Facts panel tells you

how much protein is in each serving, the protein percentage tells you how pure your protein is. To calculate, Divide the grams of protein in a single serving by the serving size and multiply by 100. Here’s an example using two different proteins. The first contains 24 grams of protein and has a serving size of 29.4 grams; the second contains 26 grams of protein in a 35 gram serving size. At first glance, the second choice appears to provide more protein. However, using the pure protein calculation, you realize that the first protein is actually a better value because it has a higher purity level. This calculation works best on single-source proteins. Meal replacements, blends and gainers can include vitamins, minerals and other ingredients that alter the end result.

PROTEIN #1

24 g protein / 29.4 g serving size x 100

= 81.6% pure protein

PROTEIN #2

26 g protein / 35 g serving size x 100

= 74.3% pure protein

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING: The period between when you go to bed and wake up in the morning is the longest that your body goes without food. “Break the fast” with protein. In addition to providing much needed amino acids for muscle maintenance and rebuilding, proteins provide energy. Opt for a faster-acting protein like whey first thing in the morning.

PRE-WORKOUT: By drinking a protein shake about an hour before your workout, you’ll ready your body for growth with BCAAs and other essential amino acids. Whey and egg proteins are a good choice, because they are easy to drink and easily digested.

POST-WORKOUT: The 30-60 minute timeframe following exercise is a critical window of time to consume protein. Enzymes and hormones are actively repairing and rebuilding exercise-induced damage as well as replenishing glycogen stores, so your muscles are especially receptive to nutrients. By supplying a post-workout recovery protein containing whey, casein, egg, and simple carbohydrates during this “window” of opportunity, you’ll help ensure that you’re recharged and ready for your next training session.

BETWEEN MEALS: Consuming a protein shake in between meals not only helps support muscle protein synthesis, it may also help with satiety – so choose a product with one or more of these proteins if weight management is part of your goals.

BEFORE BED: During the night, the body may go for long periods of time without any food or drink. Casein protein breaks down more slowly which will help feed your muscles while you sleep. Prepare your body for the long fast ahead with a casein protein shake a half an hour before bed. Unlike whey which is rapidly broken down in the gut, casein is digested at a much slower rate releasing its amino acid constituents over several hours throughout the night while you sleep. For this reason, casein is commonly referred to as a slow-released protein.

WHEN IT COMES TO PROTEIN, it’s not just what you take; it’s when you take it. Although the human body processes protein every time that you consume it, there are certain instances when your system is more receptive to protein. More specifically, there are times when you should consume different kinds of proteins. Don’t miss out on these five important occasions.

TIMING

WHEN SHOULD I TAKE MY PROTEIN?

#1 VS.#2

sELECTION Process

A balanced and healthy diet should always serve as the primary source of protein.

However, sometimes (especially during periods of intense exercise) it may be helpful to

utilize protein supplementation to assist you in reaching your protein intake goals. Be

sure to discuss any exercise program and protein supplementation with your physician

or licensed health care provider.

There are several ways you can add variety to the consistency and taste of your protein

shake. First, you can use milk instead of water for a more robust and creamier taste.

Secondly, you can use more or less milk/water in order to modify the strength of your

shake’s flavor. Use less liquid for more taste and flavor, and more liquid for a milder

taste and thinner texture.

There are other fun ways you can change up the way you use your protein supplement.

Casein tends to have a thicker texture which allows it to freeze well in to ice cream.

BEST PRACTICES

Q: What is the difference between concentrates, isolates, and

hydrolysates?

A: These are terms that indicate the type and extent of processing that

has been done to a particular protein. Concentrates have much of the water, carbohydrates, lactose, minerals, and fat removed so the protein content is much more concentrated than it was before processing. Protein concentrates range from 34%-85% protein, but most reputable manufacturers use at least 80%. Isolates are further stripped of non-protein materials to yield purity levels of 90% or higher. Because of the extra steps, energy, and processing losses, protein isolates are more expensive than protein concentrates. Hydrolyzed proteins or protein hydrolysates are proteins that have been partially broken down (also called pre-digested) into smaller pieces, known as peptides so they get into your system quicker. Hydrolysates are generally more expensive than isolates and concentrates because extra processing steps are required. In the end, all of these protein types are highly nutritious and basically provide similar benefits, but isolates and hydrolysates offer purity and performance advantages over concentrates.

1 NUMBER OF SERVINGS PER CONTAINER.Pay attention to this number. Some brands cut costs with

cheap “filler” ingredients. So, while you may be getting 2,

5, or 10 lbs of something, you’re getting significantly fewer

servings than you would with a more reputable product.

Better yet, figure out how much total protein you’re getting by

multiplying the grams of protein per serving by the number of

servings per container. Example 24 grams of protein/serving

x 80 servings/container = 1,920 grams of protein/container.

Like the pure protein percentage equation, this formula works

best for straight protein powders.

2 AMOUNT OF PROTEIN PER SERVING.The number of grams of protein per serving is probably the

most important aspect of protein powders. Seems obvious,

but many people overlook this step assuming that either

all proteins are about the same or that the most expensive

powders contain more protein. Don’t make this mistake;

check the Nutrition Facts panel to make sure you’re paying for

protein, not just fancy marketing.

3 ORDER OF INGREDIENTS.By law, ingredients in a food or supplement product should

be listed from most to least abundant, or in technical speak:

descending order of predominance. The importance of this

becomes clear once you start shopping around. If, for example,

two products are similarly priced, but one contains a greater

amount of a less-expensive protein (you know this since

the cheaper protein is listed ahead of the more-expensive

protein source in the ingredients) you know that product is a

lesser value. Also, don’t get fooled by the hyped-up adjectives

that some companies use to describe common ingredients.

Sodium chloride is just salt; proteinaceous avian nucleus

extract is egg yolks; all quality whey protein concentrates are

ultrafiltered and contain microfractions like alpha lactalbumin,

beta lactoglobulin, lactoferrin, and glycomacropeptides.

4 MANUFACTURED BY OR FOR?Contrary to what you might think, many companies don’t

develop, manufacture, or even distribute any of their own

products; they either put their labels on common formulas

or have unique formulas created by an external factory. This

typically adds considerable costs, which are ultimately passed

along to their customers. Phrases like “manufactured for,”

“distributed by,” or “packed for,” let you know that someone

other than the company that you’re buying from made the

product. True manufacturers have made the investment in

the processing equipment and quality control procedures

required to consistently offer the best products. So, choose

“manufactured by” products whenever possible.

CHECK YOUR LABELS CAREFULLY

DETAILS Matter

3

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DIETARYCONCERNS

ALL- PURPOSE

PROTEIN ENERGY

PERFORMANCE WHEY

PERFORMANCE ISOLATE

SERIOUS MASS

PERFORMANCE WHEY

GOLD STANDARD 100% CASEIN

PROTEIN ENERGY

GOLD STANDARD 100% WHEY

GOLD STANDARD 100% WHEY

SERIOUSMASS

GOLD STANDARD 100% CASEIN

GOLD STANDARD 100% CASEIN

PROTEIN ENERGY

PLATINUMHYDROWHEY

PLATINUM HYDROBUILDER /

PRO COMPLEX

PRO COMPLEX GAINER

PLATINUM HYDROBUILDER /

PRO COMPLEX

PLATINUM TRI-CELLE CASEIN

NATURALLY FLAVORED OATS & WHEY

NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% WHEY

NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% WHEY

NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% WHEY

NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% WHEY

NATURALLY FLAVORED 100% CASEIN

MOST POPULAR

MOSTADVANCED

USAGEOCCASION

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING

PRE-WORKOUT

POST WORKOUT

BULKING / BUILDING MASS

IN BETWEEN MEALS

BEDTIME

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• MAKE SURE that you’re eating about 1/2 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day from a combination of high protein foods and supplements. If you’re very active, trying to add significant lean mass, or following a carb-conscious meal plan aim towards the higher end of this guideline.

• Spread your total daily protein goal out over 4-6 smaller meals & snacks. Doing so helps ensure better absorption and consistent amino delivery day and night.

• Try to use a faster-acting protein in the morning and before workouts, a recovery formula after workouts, and a slower-digesting protein between meals and before bed.

• Read your labels carefully and stick with a reputable brand, so you’re confident that you’re getting what you’re paying for.

• Protein provides the building blocks, but even the best sources won’t build new muscle without the proper stimulus and sufficient recuperation. So, make sure that you’re eating a sensible diet, training regularly and intensely, staying well hydrated, and getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night.

PRODUCT Comparison

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