Trying to incorporate more protein in your daily diet doesn't require eating a large steak or serving of chicken. Protein powders such as whey offer a way to incorporate protein into your diet without much of the saturated fat and calories found in meat sources. Because many whey protein products are available on the market, knowing how to spot a high-quality product is key to choosing the one right for your needs.
Significance
Whey protein is one of two major proteins present in cow's milk, the other of which is casein protein. Whey protein is produced when cheese is made; the casein or curd portion of the protein separates from the whey portion. Manufacturers then purify whey protein in various concentrations for packaging as a powder or liquid protein source.
High Biological Value
The biological value of a protein is a measurement of how well the body is able to use the protein while creating minimal wastes. Whey protein is considered a good protein to consume because of its high biological value ranking, which is 100, according to the Whey Protein Institute. The biological value of whey protein is higher than other proteins, including casein, soy and beef proteins. When choosing a quality whey protein, your goal should be to consume one with the highest biological value possible.
Purity
Several whey protein types are available on the market, including whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate. Whey protein isolate is considered the highest-quality whey protein because it is the purest protein, containing between 90 and 95 percent protein, according to the Whey Protein Institute. By comparison, whey protein concentrate has anywhere from 25 to 89 percent protein. The less protein a whey product has, the more lactose, fat and minerals it may have. If your goal is to lose or maintain weight, whey protein isolate will have less fat and calories per serving than the same serving of whey protein concentrate. You also may see products labeled "whey protein blend," which means they contain both whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate.
Full Amino Acid Profile
Whey proteins contain both essential and branched-chain amino acids. Essential amino acids mean that whey protein has all the nutrients needed for human body function while branched-chain amino acids are helpful if you are very active because the liver does not have to process them. Instead, they can go directly to your muscles to help maintain muscle mass after exercise. Quality whey protein should have an excellent amino acid profile, high in complete and branched-chain amino acids. Whey protein isolate has the highest amino acid profile, followed by whey protein blends and then whey protein concentrate.
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