Isolate and whey protein: what is the difference and which is better

Beginning athletes can hang out a little in front of a display case with a chic variety of sports supplements. Choosing between protein, isolate, concentrate or hydrolyzate can be quite difficult for a beginner.

Moreover, considering the fact that all this is high-quality protein , which is necessary for the normal functioning and maximum performance of our muscles.

What is isolate and where is it obtained from?

Dymatize ISO 100
Isolate is a highly filtered protein with a protein content of up to 97-98%. Characterized by a high degree of absorption. This sports supplement is characterized by the highest possible efficiency and is obtained from milk protein , which undergoes multi-level purification. This is the purest protein without fat, lactose, cholesterol , carbohydrates and other impurities, with minimal calorie content , which is very important for athletes during the drying period.

Protein supplements containing whey isolate are of the highest quality and provide extreme muscle growth.

For example, Dymatize ISO 100 isolate guarantees immediate saturation of muscles with amino resources for optimal recovery and active growth. This drug, like all other whey isolates, is recommended by sports experts to be taken immediately after intense exercise and in the morning to eliminate protein deficiency and prevent muscle catabolism

How to take it correctly

The isolated polypeptide is taken by athletes and bodybuilders. They need it in large quantities. Otherwise, training will not bring the desired result. Although these days protein shakes are also used for weight loss. This supplement quickly saturates the body. The feeling of hunger disappears. Most importantly, it does not contain carbohydrates.

If you weigh 65 kg, you need to consume 1.5 x 65 = 97.5 grams of protein per day. You can eat chicken, it contains about 20% protein per 100 g. But to reach the daily dose you will have to eat half a kilo. And everything would be fine, but together with proteins we will eat about 65 grams of fat. If the goal is to lose weight, we don’t need these fats at all. But there is a great alternative. Sports nutrition without fats and carbohydrates. If you are actively losing weight, this is a great option!

It is recommended to take the supplement immediately after training. The powder can be mixed with juice, milk, kefir or water. My husband loves it with kefir. It turns out something like delicious yogurt. As studies have shown, in this case there will be good stimulation of protein synthesis. Cortisol levels will decrease and muscle growth will accelerate.

You can take the powder in the morning. This is usually done if you spend the whole day actively. Isolated protein is drunk immediately after waking up. This way it is possible to reduce the deficiency of polypeptides that formed during sleep. At other times, it is better to eat unprocessed proteins, which are found in meat, fish, and eggs.

I would like to say a few words about soy protein. It is suitable for those who are lactose intolerant. And it will be useful for those who are allergic to animal polypeptides or have diseased kidneys. Soy isolate is an excellent alternative to animal proteins. Therefore, it can be recommended even to vegetarians. By the way, among English-speaking vegetarians I often notice that they boldly add a spoonful of soy protein to their cocktails. We have not yet developed this as a replacement for proteins. But I think gradually many will learn about it. And you share this information on social networks.

Taking a supplement does not mean you have to give up foods containing polypeptides. Also, you should not make any restrictions in your diet. Your diet should be balanced. It should contain fats, long-term carbohydrates and beneficial microelements. You shouldn't rely only on powdered cocktails. And it’s quite possible to take it as a snack or workout. For those who want to lose weight or gain muscle mass, proteins are the first assistants in this.

Whey protein isolate is consumed in large quantities by athletes and bodybuilders. It is impossible to achieve good results with training alone. Modern young people trying to lose weight use sports nutrition for snacks or main meals, because it quickly saturates the body and carries few calories due to the lack of carbohydrates.

If you are involved in active sports, then you need to take protein 3 times a day - in the morning, after training to restore strength, and as a snack in the afternoon. Those losing weight are allowed to take isolated protein in half the usual dose and dividing it into 2 doses. Use in the morning on an empty stomach and after exercise.

Beginners are far from the theory and have no idea how to take protein isolate or what it can be mixed with. You can make a sports protein shake with water, juice or milk. It is necessary to consume polypeptides separately from other foods, otherwise there will be no effect.

You should not take an extra dose of the supplement, because excess protein in the body will put a greater burden on the liver. In this case, protein compounds will still not be absorbed by the body, but will be excreted naturally. If a person is lactose intolerant, allergic to animal proteins, or has kidney disease, soy protein will serve as a substitute for isolate. Soy isolate is suitable even for vegetarians.

How does isolate differ from concentrate and hydrolyzate?

Whey concentrate is cheaper than isolate, since the degree of its purification and biological value is significantly lower. A good concentrate contains 60-85% pure protein, with the rest coming from fats, peptide compounds and lactose. It is absorbed more slowly, up to 4 hours . In addition, it has a higher calorie content, so it cannot be used to reduce problematic weight.

Table - types of whey protein and their differences

Protein name	Protein content	Absorption rate	Cost (in conventional units)	Biological value, units.
Concentrate	40-80%	4 hours	1	140
Isolate	90-95%	3 hours	1,5-2,2	150
Hydrolyzate	90-95%	0.5 hours	3	150

Hydrolyzate is an ideal source of protein with 100% digestibility. This is a highly purified protein, which, as a result of production, is broken down into amino acids, which means it is instantly absorbed by cells and replenishes the lack of building resources for muscles.

Comparison of different types of protein

Criterias of choice

Choosing a good protein supplement is difficult. The wide variety of brands and types of products is simply confusing.

Choosing a Good Protein Supplement Is Difficult

When purchasing proteins, you should pay attention to the following points:

you need to choose supplements with a minimum amount of carbohydrates and fats (no more than 5 grams per serving);
the protein content should be maximum (at least 20 grams per serving);
avoid the presence of additional amino acids;
check for artificial sweeteners and flavors;
give preference to companies that have been operating for a long time and have positive reviews.

What to choose and in what cases

The choice of protein form will depend on your goals.

If you need to gain weight , then you need to choose between isolate and concentrate, since fats and carbohydrates are also very necessary for building muscle mass. At the same time, the financial issue will play an important role here, since the cost of isolate is much higher than concentrate.

To actively lose weight and develop a pronounced muscle , it is necessary to strictly monitor the intake of every extra gram of fat and carbohydrates into the body.
Here, isolate or hydrolyzate will be a justified assistant - depending on what you have enough money for.

Rule #1

Which is better: isolate or whey protein? Before we answer this question, we would like to pay attention to one important topic. The fact is that many athletes (usually beginners) believe that protein powders are almost a panacea for those who cannot gain muscle mass. Like, it’s enough to drink such a sports supplement for a month and muscle growth will “trip” on its own. We would like to say right away that this is far from true. It is worth understanding that protein is just a sports supplement, and the key word here is “supplement.” This means that it cannot in any way replace a normal and nutritious diet. If you get enough protein for your body from regular food (eggs, cottage cheese, etc.), then it is quite possible that you do not need protein at all. If, for one reason or another, you don’t get enough protein (being busy at work, because of which you can’t eat normally, high food prices, etc.), then in such a situation protein can really help you.

Advantages of isolate and its disadvantages

BSN Syntha-6 Isolate
The main advantage of this supplement is the active saturation of muscle tissue with important amino structures for regeneration and anabolism . For the post-workout period, this drug is simply irreplaceable, as it quickly replenishes the supply of polypeptides and accelerates metabolic processes. The isolate’s arsenal also has undeniable advantages:

pure formula with min calories
the amount of lactose, fats and carbohydrates in the composition is reduced to zero
amino acid content
purified high quality protein content up to 98%

The supplement has only one drawback - high price . However, it quickly pays off with amazing results in the gym and powerful growth in muscles and strength.

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Whey Protein (Concentrate)

Whey protein is made from whey, the liquid component of milk. It contains quite a lot of lactose, as well as a lot of useful substances.

The production process is quite simple. Through first ripening and then gradual heat treatment, the milk is divided into two fractions - cottage cheese and whey. The liquid part includes, in addition to water itself, many proteins, fats, carbohydrates, microelements and vitamins. Therefore, it is useful in itself.

The whey is then dried. All the moisture evaporates from it, leaving only the powder. This is whey protein, or the so-called “concentrate”. No additional processing is carried out after this - the powder is mechanically homogenized, making it finely dispersed, and scattered into jars.

That is why whey protein (concentrate) contains many additional beneficial substances. All these vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates do not disappear from it during drying. The concentrate contains immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin and other important components with high biological activity. All of them are important for health, have a positive effect on overall well-being and are necessary for proper nutrition.

Among the positive effects of consuming the concentrate are improved immunity, decreased appetite, stimulation of the breakdown of fat in the body and acceleration of muscle protein synthesis. But most importantly, it reduces insulin sensitivity. This will help athletes feel good and stay healthy even with fairly strict diet control.

However, due to its high content of additional essential nutrients, the protein itself is quite low in whey protein. Depending on the variety, it can be from 30% to 80%. In addition, the “concentrate” also contains carbohydrates, presented in the form of lactose, and this is also important to take into account when preparing the correct diet.

In addition, whey protein is absorbed rather slowly. This is due not only to the content of additional (“ballast”) “additives,” but also to the fact that the protein in it is presented in unprocessed form. It begins to metabolize only 1-2 hours after administration, depending on the individual characteristics of the body.

Therefore, it is recommended to take the concentrate either in the morning or a few hours before training. And it is important to take into account the carbohydrate content. So, two whey protein shakes a day provide the same amount of “sugars” as half an apple.

In general, whey protein is characterized as follows:

Unprocessed. Contains not only the necessary proteins, but also additional beneficial substances, including those important and necessary for the body;
Pure protein concentration – 30-80% depending on the manufacturer;
Includes carbohydrates, and in fairly large quantities. These nutrients are presented in it in the form of lactose - milk sugar;
Relatively slowly absorbed. It may take up to 2 hours after administration before the metabolic processes begin.

The milk sugar content makes the concentrate unsuitable for people with lactose intolerance. This is very important to consider when choosing, since carbohydrates can be up to 30-50% of the product’s weight.

So, let's summarize.

Advantages

Additional beneficial substances in the composition nourish the body, strengthen the immune system, reduce sensitivity to insulin;
Does not undergo additional processing. Therefore, there are no ballast harmful additives in it;
Well nourishes the body throughout the day when taken in the morning. Gradually saturating the body with proteins also helps reduce catabolic processes that lead to the destruction of muscle tissue and the appearance of muscle pain.

Flaws

The concentration of the protein itself can be quite low. The best concentrate options have up to 80% of the mass, the worst – from 30%;
Slow absorption makes it unsuitable for post-workout use. You need to drink it either in the morning or 1-2 hours before playing sports.

It is also worth noting that whey protein concentrate has a low price. This can be quite important for athletes who are not willing to spend large sums of money on nutritional supplements.

Which protein shake sweetener is acceptable?

The effectiveness of protein shakes is calculated by such a parameter as biological value (BC). This is the degree of digestibility, which shows how much protein remains in the body after consumption.

So, if whey protein serves more for those who seek to build muscle tissue and body weight, then other types of protein are better suited for weight loss. For example:

Egg protein made from egg whites. It is approximately twice as expensive as whey and is absorbed in about 6-7 hours. But it is almost completely devoid of carbohydrates. BC is 100%.

2. Soy vegetable protein - BC 70%. It is much cheaper and suitable for those who want to lose weight. The disadvantages are that it is absorbed rather slowly and does not contain the required amount of amino acids.

3. Casein protein - BC 80%, digested over 8 hours. Made from milk.

4. Beef protein - extracted from the meat of cattle. In terms of absorption and quality, it is in many ways similar to whey isolate. But it is more rarely available for sale and costs more.

We invite you to find out how much a piece of bread of different varieties weighs, how much a piece of sausage weighs

5. Multicomponent protein, consisting of different types of protein. This includes egg, casein, and soy proteins. The advantage is that some of the protein is absorbed quickly, as is necessary after an active workout. The remaining parts are absorbed slowly, providing a constant flow of building materials. As a result, the body does not lack protein throughout the day.

Which protein should you choose? There are so many of them, how can you understand their properties and qualities?

Almost all protein shakes contain sweeteners, which give the mixture a pleasant sweet taste. Always pay attention to which sweeteners are used. They can be found in the sweeteners column. Manufacturers often add:

aspartame (E951), which contains methanol and phenylalanine, which disrupt hormonal levels, change metabolism, and negatively affect chemical processes in the brain;
acesulfame potassium (E950), which, according to experts, remains incompletely studied;
sodium cyclamate (E952), which negatively affects metabolism, kidney and liver function and is completely prohibited in the USA.

Choose blends that use completely safe and natural stevia and its derivatives as a sweetener.

Reproductive isolation

Reproductive (biological) isolation

leads to disruption of free crossing or the formation of sterile offspring.
They classify environmental, ethological, temporary, anatomical-morpho-physiological and genetic reproductive isolation. With the ethological
nature of reproductive isolation for individuals of different populations, the probability of fertilization decreases due to differences in lifestyle and behavior, for example, different species of birds have different courtship rituals and mating songs.
With an ecological
nature, the living conditions of living organisms differ, for example, fish populations spawn in different places.
With temporary isolation, the timing of reproduction differs. With anatomical-morpho-physiological
reproductive isolation in living organisms, differences arise in the structure, size of individual organs of the reproductive system, or differences arise in the biochemical aspects of reproductive function.
With the genetic
nature of reproductive isolation, incompatible gametes arise or hybrids with reduced viability, fertility or sterility appear.

The listed forms of reproductive isolation arise independently of each other and can be combined in any combination. However, it is genetic

isolation is considered one of the most important forms of reproductive isolation, since other forms of reproductive isolation during speciation ultimately lead precisely to the emergence of independence of the gene pools of two populations. Long-term geographic isolation often contributes to the emergence of reproductive isolation.

CLASSIFICATION OF ISOLATING MECHANISMS

Harm and side effects

Taking protein supplements helps improve body condition and increase muscle mass. But their uncontrolled use can have side effects and even harm health.

Taking protein supplements helps improve body condition and increase muscle mass.
Supplements cannot completely replace all meals.

If overused, the following complications may occur:

Impaired kidney and liver function. An athlete needs about 2 grams of protein per 1 kilogram of weight per day. When consuming a large amount of isolate, this norm is exceeded. As a result, the load on the excretory system and disruption of the kidneys and liver increases.
Lack of nutrients. Although proteins are rich in minerals and amino acids, they cannot fully provide the body with all the necessary substances. As a result, a deficiency of substances occurs and disruption of the functioning of the entire body.
Toxin poisoning. Some additives contain traces of hazardous substances (mercury, lead, cadmium, etc.). Their volume is very small and with moderate protein consumption they do not have a negative effect on the body. But if they are consumed excessively, poisoning occurs.

Compliance with dosages and rules for taking isolate helps to avoid such complications.

Choosing the best protein for weight loss

Another important criterion that will help you decide on the choice of protein is your body's reaction to lactose. If you have allergic reactions or after drinking regular milk you experience diarrhea, bloating, gas and pain, then whey concentrate is definitely not suitable for you. Therefore, if you are looking for protein for weight loss, your best options are:

whey isolate;
hydrolyzate;
egg white.

Once you reach the optimal value in the weight readings, switch to multi-component mixtures. Different rates of protein absorption will perfectly keep your body in shape and prevent you from gaining excess weight again.

Product advantages

Whey protein isolate, due to its purified composition, is absorbed very quickly, and therefore is an almost ideal building material for muscles. This feature allows it to be used effectively both in sports nutrition and in weight loss programs.

In addition, protein isolate has a positive effect on human health in general, namely:

helps cope with stress
;
promotes the production of serotonin
– the hormone of joy;
has a beneficial effect on liver function
;
helps lower blood pressure
.

What can be replaced?

What can replace isolate? How to get protein in other ways?

The first method is the so-called protein concentrate. It is more affordable, which is due to the relative simplicity of the production technology. It contains about 60-85% protein, which, of course, is lower than in isolate. However, there is no reasonable evidence and confirmation that the properties and actions are different. But still, in addition to protein, products in this category may contain carbohydrates, although sometimes they are necessary, including for successful training.
The hydrolyzate has the best properties, as it is obtained by hydrolyzing (destructing) the isolate. But due to the difficulty of obtaining such drugs, they are quite expensive, but they are absorbed much faster and more correctly.
There are also various combined products, that is, mixtures consisting of enzymatic matrices, kesain, isolate, hydrolyzate and concentrate.