The proteins beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin found in whey are "complete" and "essential" to the human body. This is why whey has become so popular as a nutritional protein supplement.

We need to eat essential nutrients to stay alive, but we don't need non-essential nutrients, or our bodies can make them in other ways.

Whey protein aids in the body's ability to meet its protein needs due to its high bioavailability. This, and the fact that it was first created from a waste product (cheese making), has helped it become one of the top-selling supplements worldwide, especially in the bodybuilding and fitness communities.

But whey is more than just a way to ingest more quality protein. If quality whey didn't provide other health benefits besides simple protein absorption, we probably wouldn't bother sourcing and selling it.

Current manufacturing methods and much research have proven that grass-fed whey protein is a superfood! And since superfoods are our favorite foods, we made it a mission to bring premium quality whey under the Wild Foods brand.

Whey usually has between 1% and 8% lactose and tiny amounts of casein, so most people who can't handle lactose or casein can still use it.

Due to its long shelf-life and easy-to-make convenience, oatmeal has become a staple in the health and fit-conscious individual's program.

Whey protein can be a meal replacement in its purest form—with just water—or in a shake or smoothie concoction with other ingredients.

A whey protein supplement can also be used in recipes such as bars, desserts, and baked items, to name a few. It is also commonly used as a pre- and post-workout recovery drink to aid protein synthesis and repair.

Types of Whey Protein

​Whey protein powder comes in three varieties, each with its own unique nutritional profile and manufacturing process. These are whey protein concentrate (most common), whey protein isolates, and hydrolyzed whey protein.

Whey concentrate makes up the bulk of the protein powders on the market. The protein level in a concentrate can vary from 25% to as much as 90%, the most common.

The remainder of whey contains various amounts of lactose (avg of 1%-8%), fat, minerals, and water.

Whey Benefits

Whey can help you reduce calories by providing a low-calorie meal replacement.

Increase intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that form the building blocks of life.

Increases intake of leucine, a growth-promoting essential amino acid used in tissue repair and growth

Includes cysteine, an essential amino acid that converts to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant in promoting health and longevity

Aids in protein synthesis, ideally before and after workouts

It helps promote muscle mass and growth (significant for males, females, young, and old)

Increases daily protein intake (Most people don't consume enough protein)

Helps control appetite

Supports the immune system through immunoglobulins

Whey Research

Therapeutic applications of whey protein

Whey protein's newfound health benefits and therapeutic applications.

Effect of whey protein isolates on intracellular glutathione and oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate epithelial cells.

Glutathione (GSH) modulation and whey protein concentrate (WPC) for cancer therapy.

A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet affects glucose production and metabolic rate.

Nutritional therapy of chronic hepatitis by whey protein (non-heated).

Casein vs. Whey

Two popular forms of protein available today are casein protein and whey

protein. While they are both derived from milk, they are very different. Let's explore some of the differences between casein and whey. 

One of the most significant differences is how the body absorbs it. Your body can absorb casein protein slower than a whey protein supplement.

This is because the body breaks proteins into amino acids, then circulates them through the bloodstream until the body absorbs them. 
 
Amino acids are elevated for up to five hours after consuming casein but only for 90 minutes when you consume whey protein.
 
Casein protein is good if you want a protein that breaks down slowly and slowly releases the amino acids. Casein protein powder is suitable for fasting and sleeping. However, since the body absorbs whey protein much faster, it is ideal for workouts and can help repair and rebuild muscle. 
 
And that brings us to muscle growth. Whey protein supplementation is best for working out because of its amino acid profile. It contains leucine, which helps kickstart the process needed to build muscle.  
 
It stimulates muscle protein synthesis, or the muscle growth process, after a workout with muscle breakdown, and you need muscle recovery. 

Pea Protein vs. Whey

Another popular protein source is pea protein. This protein is extracted from whole foods and then concentrated before being made into powder form. The most significant difference between pea protein and whey is the protein source. 
 
Whey protein is a dietary protein isolated from whey and comes from milk. Pea protein comes from a plant like legumes or yellow split peas and is also considered lactose free. 
 
Whey milk protein is processed through chemical separation, while pea protein is processed through mechanical separation. The texture of each is also different. While whey protein is thin and almost milky, pea protein has a smooth and creamy texture. Pea protein is gluten-free but mixes well into food and drinks.
 
Since pea protein is plant-based and not animal-based, it is free of more common allergens like lactose and glucose. So, if you have a lot of food allergies or lactose intolerance, a pea protein source may be a better option than whey protein supplementation.  
 
Whey Protein Isolate vs. Concentrate
When looking at the differences between whey protein isolate vs. concentrate, you will notice the main difference regarding the processing. 
 
Whey isolate processes more, producing a higher protein content and fewer carbohydrates, fat, and lactose. This is also why whey protein isolate will be more expensive than whey concentrate varieties.
Another difference is that whey concentrate is more bioavailable than isolate. It can be digested much faster. For this reason, you want to concentrate after a workout because it can help with muscle repair, breakdown, muscle building, and strength. 

How Cheap Whey Is Made

Step #1: Dairy cows produce milk

The first step in determining the final powder's quality starts with the dairy cows' diet and lifestyle. 

Unhappy cows living in inhumane and disgusting conditions on factory farms produce milk that doesn't taste good and is unsuitable for you. (This is a proven fact of all food produced in these conditions, especially animals.)

​Step #2: Raw milk is cooled and transported by tanker trucks to a cheese manufacturer

After this step, most whey protein on the market enters the cheesemaking process, which starts with separating the cheese curds from the whey and draining off the whey to make whey protein powder.

The whey is usually heated and processed in more than one way. All of these steps damage or denature the proteins in the whey. The bioactive cysteine-rich proteins in raw milk are destroyed when it is denatured. This is raw milk's primary health benefit.

Step #3: The raw milk is used in the cheesemaking process, and the liquid whey, which used to be considered a waste product, is drained off

It's common practice to separate the whey from the curds using enzymes such as animal rennet.

Step #4: The liquid whey is transported (again) to the whey manufacturer

Step #5: The ​whey ​is ​made ​into ​whey ​protein ​powder ​using ​one ​of ​the ​following

Micro-filtered - a method of passing the whey through superfine particle filters to filter out fat, lactose, and carbohydrates, leaving whey protein behind

Ultra-filtered - Micro-filtered and then filtered again, often with acid processing, to make whey protein isolate (not ideal as this further damages/removes nutrition) (Also not suitable due to your body being unable to assimilate proteins in the isolate form.)

Acid or ion exchange method - Uses chemicals to separate whey from fats. Not ideal.

Hydrolyzed whey method - A process known as "enzymatic hydrolysis" is used to further break down the proteins into a more accessible digestible form. This is often done using either an acid method or an enzyme like pancreatic protease. As you might have guessed, this could be better, and we recommend you steer clear of anything hydrolyzed.

Proprietary filtration method used to produce "Undenatured" whey - The technique used to make our Wild Whey. It uses a proprietary filtration and drying process that involves minimal processing. It creates a superior whey full of glutathione-promoting cysteines and the natural immune-boosting protein components; immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and serum albumin.

Step #6: The ​final ​powder ​is ​stored ​in ​large 20-40lb ​paper ​bags ​before ​shipping to the co-packer.

Step #7: The whey powder is packed in various retail sizes and shipped to retailers to sit on a shelf.

How Non-denatured Cold Process Whey Is Made

Step #1: Dairy cows produce milk

The first step in determining the final powder's quality starts with the dairy cows' diet and lifestyle. 

Unhappy cows living in inhumane and disgusting conditions on factory farms produce milk that doesn't taste good and is unsuitable for you. (This is a proven fact of all food produced in these conditions, especially animals.)

Step #2: Raw milk is cooled and transported to ​the protein manufacturer

Step #3: The ​raw ​milk ​is ​single ​pasteurized (​by ​law) ​and then immediately ​re-cooled

Step #5: The single-pasteurized ​milk enters ​the ​whey ​manufacturing ​process ​using ​the ​following

Proprietary filtration method used to produce "Undenatured" whey - The technique used to create our Wild Whey. It uses a proprietary filtration and drying process that involves minimal processing. It makes a superior whey full of glutathione-promoting cysteines and the natural immune-boosting protein components; immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and serum albumin.

Step #7 (In the case of Wild Whey): The final powder is stored in large 40lb paper bags and ​shipped ​to Wild Foods HQ

Step #8 (In the case of Wild Whey): Retail ​sizes ​of ​the ​undenatured ​whey ​are ​then ​shipped ​to ​customers

Step #9: Wild Customers ​consume ​Wild ​Whey ​and ​feel ​healthy, ​strong, and ​happy!

What Makes Wild Whey So Great?

• It's made from grass-fed cows year-round from their raw milk and not from denatured whey, which is the byproduct of the cheesemaking process.
• It is hormone-Treatment-Free
• There is no added sugar.
• It is gently processed using single pasteurization and dried using ambient air temperature.
• Naturally sweetened with Stevia, Nature's zero calories sweetener... it tastes great!
• It includes a complete list of essential amino acids to increase muscle growth and faster recovery times.
• Biologically active and non-denatured, Wild Whey is packed with only natural nutrition.

What Makes Wild Whey So Great?

When consuming protein powder, the generalization is that you should drink at most 50 grams over one day. If you do, it can cause health issues. 

Maintaining a balance between your macronutrients, micronutrients, and vitamins and minerals is essential. Your body can function at a higher level when you find this balance.

It is safe to have more than one protein shake per day, but experts recommend no more than three. Even though more research is needed on protein consumption, the National Institutes of Health warns against excessive protein consumption. 

Whey protein overconsumption may aggravate lactose intolerance symptoms. You can experience muscle cramps, diarrhea, bloating, and gas. If you are lactose intolerant, you want to choose a whey protein isolate supplement and not a whey protein concentrate.

Constipation is also a risk if you don't eat enough fruits and vegetables or are on a low-carb diet. The fruits and vegetables you consume daily are a good source of fiber. 

Finally, over time, too much whey protein could cause your kidneys to work overtime as they must work harder to filter your blood. This can ultimately result in kidney damage or worsen kidney disease. However, a higher protein diet shouldn't affect you as much if you are healthy with no other health conditions. 

Everyday How Many Tablespoons of Whey Protein Should I Take?

The recommended dosage of whey protein per day is 1 to 2 scoops, which comes out to around 25 to 50 grams daily. You always want to follow the serving suggestions on the label of your whey protein. 

Also, if you already have a high protein intake, you may not even need to add this amount of whey protein to your diet daily.

When Should I Take Whey Protein?

The best time to take your whey protein is after or right before a workout because it has been shown to increase muscle growth. 

The 15 to 60 minutes post-workout is known as the anabolic window and is the ideal time to take your whey protein and get most of its nutrients.