{"id":3147,"date":"2025-01-22T09:54:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T09:54:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movewithnicole.com.au\/blog\/whey-protein-isolate-vs-concentrate-which-is-the-better-choice.html"},"modified":"2025-01-22T09:54:55","modified_gmt":"2025-01-22T09:54:55","slug":"whey-protein-isolate-vs-concentrate-which-is-the-better-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ozhelp.org.au\/blog\/health\/whey-protein-isolate-vs-concentrate-which-is-the-better-choice.html","title":{"rendered":"Whey Protein Isolate vs. Concentrate: Which Is the Better Choice?"},"content":{"rendered":"

You probably know protein is an important part of the muscle-building process. But this macronutrient matters more than you may think. It also plays an essential role in recovery\u00a0and even\u00a0bone health.<\/p>\n

While the majority of protein should come from\u00a0whole food sources\u00a0like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, and beans, a\u00a0good\u00a0protein powder can deliver high-quality protein in a concentrated, more convenient form.<\/p>\n

And\u00a0whey protein\u00a0is considered the gold standard because it has all of the\u00a0amino acids your body needs to fuel muscle gain and recovery, making it a \u201ccomplete\u201d protein.<\/p>\n

Understanding that whey is a great option is pretty simple. But before you grab any old whey powder, the details make all the difference in ensuring you\u2019re giving your body what it needs \u2014 and not getting ripped off.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know about whey protein isolate vs. concentrate \u2014 and how each type of whey protein can play a role in an athlete\u2019s diet.<\/p>\n

What Is Whey Protein?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Whey is derived from milk and is a byproduct of the cheese-making process: Enzymes are added to milk to separate the liquid from curds. After the curds are drained, the leftover liquid is whey.<\/p>\n

This liquid was originally considered a \u201cwaste\u201d product. Then supplement makers realized whey could be used as a high-quality, valuable protein.<\/p>\n

Because\u00a0whey production\u00a0is a multi-step process, there are different variations. Whey protein is primarily offered as two different variations: whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate.<\/p>\n

Knowing the difference (and what to look for on a label) will go a long way to ensuring you get the most out of your protein supplements.<\/p>\n

Whey Protein Isolate vs Concentrate: What Are the Differences?<\/h2>\n

The main difference between whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate is protein content.<\/p>\n

Whey protein concentrate is the most common form of whey protein. To understand how whey protein concentrate is processed, imagine whey falling off a conveyor belt into buckets. All you need to do is filter out impurities, dehydrate it, flavor it, and call it \u201cDelicious Chocolate Whey Concentrate.\u201d (Coming soon to a supplement store near you!) Some supplement companies may do more than that to their concentrate products, but it\u2019s not required.<\/p>\n

That means whey protein concentrate can vary widely in terms of protein content. Whey protein may be labeled as \u201cconcentrate\u201d if\u00a025 to 89 percent of its content by weight\u00a0is protein. So if you scoop out 100 grams of protein powder, it can be called whey protein concentrate if anywhere between 25 and 89 grams of that is protein.<\/p>\n

Whey protein isolate \u2014 found in Beachbody Performance Recover \u2014 must be at least 90 percent protein\u00a0by weight. If you scoop out 100 grams of whey isolate, you will get 90 grams or more of protein \u2014 a significant difference compared to concentrate.<\/p>\n

Are there any other types of whey protein?<\/h3>\n

One more type of whey protein you might hear about is whey protein hydrolysate. This type of whey protein has been\u00a0partially broken down with acid and high heat, making it easier to digest. (For this reason, it\u2019s commonly used in baby formula.)<\/p>\n

Hydrolysates are absorbed more quickly than isolates, but there\u2019s\u00a0no strong evidence to suggest\u00a0that the faster speed has any added benefit for muscle gain or recovery.<\/p>\n

What Are the Benefits of Each Type of Whey Protein?<\/h2>\n

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Most research on protein powders has found that whey protein is the best way to go for\u00a0muscle growth. Whey protein contains an ideal mix of\u00a0essential amino acids, and when taken regularly, whey protein can deliver results.<\/p>\n

But there are a few unique benefits of each type of whey protein.<\/p>\n

Concentrates tend to be the cheapest sources of protein supplementation. This doesn\u2019t mean the product is low-quality, but it does mean it\u2019s not the highest purity for a protein powder.<\/p>\n

Whey isolates tend to have a higher price relative to concentrates for four reasons:<\/p>\n