What Are the Benefits of Milk Protein?

What Are the Benefits of Milk Protein?
Photo Credit Container of milk. Plastic milk bottle image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com

When you consider meat, eggs, soy and dairy, there seems to be no shortage of food to meet your protein requirements, not to mention all of the various protein supplements available. You need protein in your diet. It plays a vital role in your body's cell production, including your muscles and immune system. Each protein type has its own positives and negatives. Milk protein, known as whey, carries many potential benefits.

Post-Workout Recovery

One milk protein benefit is helping you recover from your workouts. As Fitness Magazine explains, a post-workout whey protein shake helps rebuild your muscles and replenish your energy stores. Combine your whey milk protein supplement with a banana and some water, and you can get a mix of protein and carbohydrates that will get your ready to work out again soon.

It's Cost-Effective

Some protein sources can be incredibly expensive; a quality cut of meat may make a substantial dent in your food budget. With milk protein, you can get plenty of protein at a cost-effective price. MayoClinic.com explains the cost per gram of protein. At $2.60 for a half-gallon of milk, you get a gram of protein for just over 4 cents.

Improves Body Composition

The whey protein in milk may also make a positive impact on your body composition, the amount of lean tissue and adipose tissue you have. Ideally, when you lose weight, you want to decrease body fat while maintaining as much of your muscle mass as possible. A 2008 study published in the journal "Nutrition & Metabolism" found people who used whey protein while they lost weight kept more muscle mass than those who did not.

References

Article reviewed by Lauren Fritsky Last updated on: Oct 10, 2010

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