Whey protein is the liquid remains left over after the solid curd portion of the milk-fat has been separated out to make cheese. In its initial form, whey is already one of the highest quality proteins known. It is beneficial to bodybuilding, weight loss and just about anybody who wants to consume more protein. But it is also possible to isolate whey further and remove most of its surrounding content.
Definition
According to the Whey Protein Institute, whey protein isolate is the most pure and concentrated form of whey available. It is a kind of whey protein, but a special kind that is differentiated from the others. It contains 90 percent or more pure protein with almost no fat and lactose. Any other kind of protein will carry between 29 and 89 percent concentrated protein. Sometimes whey protein isolate may be sold on its own, or it might be mixed in with normal whey, but both forms have been put through a concentration and drying process to turn them into powder that can be added to liquid such as water by the consumer.
Function
Whey is made out of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The Biology Project from the University of Arizona states that there are 20 total amino acids, but about half of them cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained through the diet. These are known as essential amino acids. The number of essential amino acids needed depends upon the circumstances; for example, the amino acid arginine is needed by the young but not by adults. Milk, and by extension whey protein, contains all of the essential amino acids. Therefore, whey protein is known as a "complete protein." The goal of concentrating whey is to isolate the protein content from its surroundings.
Concentration
After the protein known as casein has been removed from milk to make cheese, the remaining liquid whey is then put through the concentration process. The most common method to concentrate the protein is through the act of filtration, which uses microscopic pores to physically block out unwanted components of the whey; it operates kind of like a sieve. Another method is the ion exchange, which separates parts of the protein based on their electrical charge. Whey protein isolate uses these methods extensively to isolate the protein down to its essence. This requires more effort, so it is more expensive to buy. Other kinds of whey protein require less effort and are therefore less expensive. If whey is not very concentrated, then it may not even use the ion exchange method at all.
Contents
Whey protein isolate is almost bereft of fat, cholesterol and carbohydrates, and the lactose contained within it should be small enough for even those who are lactose intolerant. Gram for gram whey protein isolate also offers more concentrated amounts of essential amino acids than other forms of whey protein, which also means that it is efficiently digested and absorbed into the body.
Benefits
Whey protein isolate has important benefits for physically active individuals. It is quickly used by the muscles, which is a clear advantage over other forms of whey protein that tend to be used much slower. The Ohio State University Department of Food Science and Technology also found that whey isolate has interesting immune boosting properties. Researchers noted that it increases the activity of the antioxidant glutathione in the prostate, which may protect against the development of prostate cancer.
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