Protein Concentrate is a sports supplement that contains purified protein. It comes in various origins: egg, whey, vegetable (including soy) animals. There are no artificially synthesized concentrated proteins.
Whey Concentrate is the most popular and most commonly used form of protein used in sports to build muscle and during the drying period to accelerate weight loss. Many athletes take the supplement periodically to keep fit.
Varieties of protein concentrates
If you are lactose or soy intolerant, it is recommended to take an egg concentrate. For vegetarians and those who are fasting, the soy option is fine. In other cases, it is better to choose whey or egg proteins. The latter is absorbed better, but its price is several times higher.
Whey Protein Concentrate
It is not the most effective, but the most commonly used type of whey protein. The protein in these supplements is isolated and hydrolyzed - in this form it is more effective because it is more thoroughly purified. But such supplements are also more expensive. In this type of protein, fats, carbohydrates, cholesterol and lactose are not completely removed and make up about 20% of the product (sometimes more).
In sports, 80% concentrates are more commonly used, they are almost as effective as isolates containing 90-95% pure protein.
Features of production
Concentrated milk whey is produced by ultrafiltration. In the process, the feedstock is defatted, milk sugar (lactose) is removed. It does this by passing the whey through special membranes that filter out smaller molecules of fats and carbohydrates, trapping complex and large protein compounds. The resulting product is dried to a powder state.
Composition
Manufacturers add various additional components to the whey concentrate. The percentage of protein, carbohydrates, and fat may vary. But all such additives are more or less similar in composition.
A serving of whey protein concentrate (30 g) contains:
- 24-25 g of pure protein;
- 3-4 g of carbohydrates;
- 2-3 g of fat;
- 65-70 mg cholesterol;
- 160-170 mg potassium;
- 110-120 mg calcium;
- 55-60 mg calcium;
- vitamin A.
The supplement may contain other vitamins and minerals. It also contains flavoring agents, flavorings, sweeteners, acidulants. These components can be both natural and synthetic. Reputable sports nutrition manufacturers care about quality, therefore their products have a balanced and complete amino acid composition.
Admission rules
Each manufacturer calculates the dosage of the supplement in its own way, but the optimal portion is considered to be 30 g of pure protein per intake. A larger amount may simply not be absorbed and negatively affect the liver.
It is recommended to take from one to three servings per day.
If a person is used to consuming small amounts of protein with food, then he should not start taking protein concentrate with large doses. The eating style should be changed gradually, increasing portions evenly.
If a beginner who wants to quickly build muscle or lose weight starts with high doses, it is possible that side reactions, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and liver will develop. The body cannot absorb more protein than it used to.
The concentrate is taken by diluting it with any liquid. If the athlete needs to dry out, it is recommended to use plain water or low-fat dairy products. If the supplement is taken for the purpose of building muscle, it is best to dilute the product in juices and dairy products with normal fat content.
Comparison of whey concentrates and isolates
In the supplements we are considering, there is indeed a lower percentage of protein than in isolates, but this does not mean that the former are significantly inferior to the latter in quality.
When taking concentrated protein, the body receives less protein and more fats and carbohydrates, but its production is much cheaper, which is reflected in the cost.
After thorough cleaning, the isolate loses not only sugars and fats, but also some useful substances that remain in the concentrate. Among them:
- phospholipids;
- immunoglobulins;
- polyfunctional milk protein lactoferrin;
- lipids are healthy fats and fat-like substances.
Top Brands of Whey Protein Concentrates
Today the best whey concentrates are produced by American companies. We present the TOP of the best sports supplements of this type:
- Elite Whey Protein by Dymatize
- Whey Gold Standard by Optimum Nutrition
- Pro Star Whey Protein from Ultimate Nutrition.
Outcome
Whey protein concentrate is consistently popular among athletes, as it effectively helps to build muscle mass, dry out, and give a beautiful relief to the muscles.
