Saturday, December 20, 2008

Benefits of Whey Protein

By Travis Killian

In order to fuel life, our body needs a constant supply of three major macronutrients: carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Carbohydrates and fats help to supply our bodies mostly with energy. Protein however is a bit different.

Protein is different from other macronutrients because it is composed of small chains of nitrogen. These chains are divided into even smaller chains called amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and thus your muscle. Remember that our muscles are 70% water, 20% protein, 5% fat, 5% carbs.

It is clear that protein plays a greater role in building muscle than the other macronutrients, so if you are building a better physique, do not neglect it. Whey protein is a form of protein that digests very quickly, usually within 30 minutes, and it also contains all of your essential amino acids. It is especially important when you workout.

One of the best times to take whey protein is right after you workout. The reason for this is that your muscles are depleted of their glycogen reserves and your muscle tissues are broken down. After you workout, you are highly sensitive to insulin - which shuttles muscles to your muscles rather than fat.

During this period it is very important to get as much protein and carbohydrates to your muscles as possible. You want to build back up your glycogen reserves and build back stronger so that you can hit the gym sooner. This allows for you to grow faster and stronger than ever.

So this sounds great, but is it safe? Whey protein is very safe for you; in fact, there is little evidence to suggest that it has any harmful side effects. Since it is found naturally in foods, especially milk, you can rest assured that whey protein will not do any damage, unlike steroids.

You want to make sure that you take whey protein especially after you workout and wake up. Your body is highly sensitive during these times and the fast absorption of whey protein will be fully utilized. You can take it at other times during the day, but don't let whey protein take the place of natural foods.

For any other time of the day, casein protein could help you out. I won't mention much about it in this article, but casein digests slowly. This will give you a constant supply of protein throughout the day so that way you can prevent muscle breakdown and keep your body constantly supplied with protein.

If you aren't already using whey protein, look into it right away. You can get 5lb for under 30$ and that will last you at least a month. You can afford to invest in your body. It doesn't get any better than looking and feeling great. - 15995

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