The sport of bodybuilding is very competitive and as a result people are constantly looking for an edge. Sometimes, there are new products that come to the market and over deliver, while other times new products are simply nothing but hype. Still, the fact remains that if you ask every competitive or pro bodybuilder if they use whey protein supplements, then 100% of them will answer with a yes. The reasons that people use protein powder are vast, but we’ll attempt to explain them over the course of this article. Although protein powder is important and useful for bodybuilding, there are several different types, each of differing quality, so knowing what to look for is important. We’ll attempt to answer that for you as well.

The most popular protein powder is whey protein, which is a dairy protein derived from milk. Whey protein is used by nearly every lifter because it provides immediate protein delivery to starving muscles. Most experts recommend that you get 20-25 grams of protein within the first 30 minutes after your workout, and whey protein is one of the best ways to do that. Whey protein generally comes in scoops of 16-40 grams, but the good ones usually offer a minimum of 25g per serving. Good protein powders have very little filler in them and are usually mixed with compounds that help your body digest them. They also mix a lot better than bad products.

Another form of protein powder is casein, which is also a dairy protein but is digested much more slowly than whey. Casein is usually used as a secondary protein powder because it isn’t as effective post-workout. Many bodybuilders will use casein in the evening before bed and during periods when they will be without food for a long time. The benefit of casein is that it feeds your body with a steady stream of protein over a longer period, while whey is fast acting and quickly absorbed.

Lastly, you’ll find some bodybuilders that use soy protein, although not very many do. The reason that soy is not as effective as dairy proteins is that it is not a complete protein, meaning that it isn’t as full of amino acids as dairy proteins are. Soy protein is simply not equivalent to whey or casein. Soy protein is also not absorbed by the body in the same way, and although it is still useful protein, it is generally used as a dietary supplement rather than a bodybuilding supplement.

Depending on what you need protein powder for, soy might be the best route. Soy does have a lot of nutrients that dairy does not have, not to mention it does not contain lactose. Soy is generally accepted as a healthier protein, albeit less complete.

Protein powder is useful for a variety of circumstances and most people can use it for more than one. It makes a great meal replacement shake, especially when mixed in a blender with fruit. It also works great as a bodybuilding supplement or a mid-meal snack. Regardless of how you use it, make sure that you look for a reputable brand that offers a high amount of protein per serving. You’ll be able to judge the quality of the protein by the amount of protein per gram. If there is a lot of filler, you will know because of the protein ratio. You can find some great protein powder deals online, where you’ll probably save up to 30%. If you buy protein powder in a store, you will generally pay sticker price, which isn’t cheap. Although whey protein is getting more expensive as of late, it is still very affordable, especially if you buy it in 5 LB tubs or more.

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