Whey Protein vs. Other Protein
What are the benefits for different groups of people?
Is it safe for children?
Why Whey Protein?
Whey protein has shown strong health benefits in many areas:
A Better Body Composition
Measuring body composition is a little more sophisticated than weight loss alone. Body composition measures pounds of fat lost and pounds of muscle retained. Many people don’t realize that 40% of the pounds lost on some diet and weight loss plans include muscle. When dieting, there is reason to believe that proteins rich in branched chain amino acids (BCAA’s) can help limit the muscle lost. Whey protein is the best source of BCAA’s in the diet.
Targeted Fat Loss
This could make Whey the New “It” Protein -- Emerging science has shown that diets incorporating whey protein may help reduce inches around the waist better than diets incorporating alternatives like soy protein. Because waist size is a leading indicator of heart disease and diabetes, whey protein is an important nutrient in one’s diet.
Better Workout Results
Consuming whey protein shortly after a workout can make the exercise you already do work harder to tone muscle and burn fat. This is because the body requires higher amounts of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) during and after exercise as they are absorbed directly by the skeletal muscles instead first being metabolized through the liver, like other amino acids. BCAA trigger muscle protein synthesis to aid in muscle recovery, repair, and tone.
A Role in Healthy Aging
Finally, as we all get older, we naturally lose muscle. Whey protein helps you retain this valuable muscle to keep you healthy, lean, and strong as you age.
Whey Protein vs. Other Proteins:
Not all proteins are created equal.
Digestibility and PDCAAS (Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score)
Proteins can receive high amino acid scores based on their Essential Amino Acid (ESAA) content. However, not all proteins are digested equally. The PDCAAS system accounts for not only ESAA content but the protein's digestibility and, thus, how much of a protein's ESAA content is really reaching the blood stream where it matters most. This makes PDCAAS the preferred method of measuring protein value in human nutrition.
Whey protein's score (below) of 1.0 indicates that its ESAA are entering the blood stream at the proper quantities and rates compared to the referenced standard established by the Food & Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO).
Efficiency and PER (Protein Efficiency Ratio)
Scientists measure the amount of protein in the food eaten by an animal and then measure the weight the animal gains. This ratio is called the protein efficiency ratio (PER). The PER for whey protein is 3, the highest of any protein measured. This means that for every 3 grams of whey protein consumed, only 1 gram of weight is gained.
Net Protein Utilization and Biological Value (BV)
These methods measure how efficiently a protein in the diet is utilized by the body to make tissue. It is based on the amount of nitrogen that is utilized or ingested from a protein. The higher the number, the greater the efficiency. Typically proteins with high amounts of ESAA's like whey protein have high Net Protein Utilization and Biological Values.
Protein Quality Rankings
Protein Type |
Protein Efficency Ratio |
Biological Value |
Net Protein Utilization |
Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score |
| Whey Protein | 3.2 |
104 |
92 |
1.00 |
| Casein | 2.5 |
77 |
76 |
1.00 |
| Milk | 2.5 |
91 |
76 |
1.00 |
| Egg | 3.9 |
100 |
94 |
1.00 |
| Beef | 2.9 |
80 |
73 |
0.92 |
| Soy Protein | 2.2 |
74 |
61 |
1.00 |
| Wheat Gluten | 0.8 |
64 |
67 |
0.25 |
Adapted from: U.S Dairy Export Council, Reference Manual for U.S. Whey Products 2nd Edition, 1999 and Sarwar, 1997.
Leucine and Branched Chain Amino Acids Contents in Common Dietary Proteins
Protein Source |
Leucine |
BCAA |
| Whey Protein | 13% |
26% |
| Milk Protein | 10% |
20% |
| Egg Protein | 9% |
20% |
| Muscle Proteins | 8% |
18% |
| Soy Protein Isolate | 8% |
18% |
| Oat Protein | 8% |
17% |
| Wheat Protein | 7% |
15% |
The Role of Protein in Weight Management and Body Composition. A Presentation by Dr. Donald Layman, University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign
(Note: None of these measures are perfect as they rely on studies in animals, however, the measures are widely used as a means for comparing proteins and are accepted by the WHO and FDA.)
What are the benefits for different groups of people?
Most Americans either don’t get enough protein in the morning, or do not consume enough sources of lean protein throughout the day. Both are essential to a healthy and balanced diet. A recent summit of experts reviewed evidence from the International Dietary Energy Consultancy Group (IDECG), World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) panel regarding protein intake. They concluded that eating a higher protein diet - still within the recommended range, but toward the top of it - may play a role in optimal health. In terms of upper limits of consumption, people can safely consume 3-4 times the current DV (daily value) which is 50 grams based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Convenient foods enriched with whey protein, that are low in fat, sugar, and cholesterol, can help overcome the hurdles of getting enough of the right protein throughout the day. Additionally, whey protein provides many other benefits specific to your needs.
Physical Performance
It has long been known that people who exercise regularly need more protein than average. People looking to make their exercise work harder for them should be sure to include whey protein as a source of lean protein in their diets. Whey protein has been shown to be particularly helpful because it is the highest source of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleicine, and valine. These BCAA’s help tone and build lean muscle. They also have been shown to promote more efficient recovery after exercise. Body builders and professional athletes have long known these benefits, but the benefits now translate to everyday active people.
Weight Watchers
A growing body of research suggests whey protein could be a key component in achieving a leaner you. Research from the University of Illinois’ Dr. Donald Layman found that when dieters incorporated moderately higher protein levels, they lost more fat and retained more muscle than the conventional diet program. Adding exercise to the equation enhanced results even further.
Dr. Layman’s work is frequently referenced and it is important to understand what drove the results. The suggested reasons for success beyond calorie reduction alone were the following:
- controlling the carbohydrate:protein ratio in the diet
- delivering higher amounts of BCAA’s, particularly leucine, in their food choices.
Carbohydrate:Protein
Two type of diets have been used in Dr. Layman’s studies:
- a reduced calorie diet where food choices featured higher carbohydrates and provided a protein:carbohydrate ratio >3.5.
- a reduced-calorie diet where food choices featured higher protein and provided a protein:carbohydrate ratio is <1.5.
Those on the 1.5 diet saw better results. They preserved more muscle and lost more fat, thus, achieving the goal of an improved Body Composition. Better Whey of Life™ yogurt is one of the few convenient foods that provide a 1.5 carb to protein ratio.
The Role of Leucine
The food choices to deliver the higher protein diets were complete protein sources rich in BCAA, particularly the amino acid leucine. Leucine has a unique role in metabolic regulation beyond basic protein synthesis. It regulates muscle protein synthesis and helps maintain steady blood glucose levels. Whey protein is the best source of leucine compared to other proteins. Better Whey of Life™ yogurt delivers the most Whey Protein and thus leucine versus any other yogurt on the market. Additionally, consuming foods rich in protein and fiber, help satisfy hunger longer versus consuming the same calories of carbohydrates.
Satiety Factor
It is well accepted that consuming foods rich in protein and fiber, help satisfy hunger longer versus consuming the same calories from carbohydrates. Data suggests whey protein may be particularly good at imparting satiety because of its ability to interact with 2 gastrointestinal hormones associated with appetite, cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Better Whey of Life™ yogurt is obviously rich in whey protein, but also provides meaningful levels of protein and fiber that help you feel full.
Healthy Aging
Once adults reach the age of 35, they begin to lose muscle at a rate of 1% per year. Whey protein is particularly strong in helping combat muscle loss that naturally occurs with age. Thus, whey protein can be a key component to healthy aging.
Long Term Wellness
In addition to whey protein helping to strengthen, tone, and slim the body, it is shown to have benefits in several other areas:
- Antioxidants
Lactoferrin and other whey protein components have been shown to work as antioxidants, preventing the chemical deterioration of cells needed to fight germs. Cysteine, an amino acid abundant in whey protein, plays an important role in protecting cells from oxidation. - Cardiovascular Health
Emerging science is also showing the potential to promote healthy blood pressure. Whey protein’s ability to inhibit ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme, an enzyme in the body which stimulates production of blood cells and causes blood vessels to constrict) can help reduce blood pressure, which in turn lowers a person’s risk of heart disease. - Diabetes
Whey protein rates low in both glycemic index and glycemic load. In addition, recent research suggests that whey protein can help stimulate the secretion of insulin, lowering blood sugar and helping prevent the symptoms of diabetes. Finally, emerging science shows whey protein helps reduce inches around the waist. Abdominal fat, among other conditions, is a key risk factor that could lead to Metabolic Syndrome and even diabetes.
Is it safe for children?
Human breast milk is especially rich in whey protein, so it is only natural that whey protein is good for infants and toddlers. Pediatricians are prescribing whey protein hydrolysate-based milk formulas because of their ability to aid digestion and absorption for infants (less than six months of age) with gastrointestinal symptoms of cow milk and/or soy protein-based infant formula intolerance. Although using whey as an ingredient in infant formulas is not revolutionary, new research has uncovered techniques that can help manufacturers make infant formula more like human breast milk.
Additionally, toddlers’ digestive tracts are continuing to develop. Therefore, the ease of digestibility of whey protein makes it a good source of protein to include in their diets.
Back to Tulabelle's Classroom
MEDIA RELATIONS INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY TERMS & CONDITIONS 