Whey is the liquid that remains after milk has been curdled and strained and is usually the byproduct of the cheese-making process.
Whey was considered a waste product until the 70s when Frank Thomas figured out how to convert the liquid whey into a dried powder.
This innovation birthed an entire industry—whey protein supplements—and helped spearhead the growth of the supplement industry as a whole.
Nowadays, all cheese operations include processing and selling whey or whey powder as a part of its business model.
One of the reasons whey has become so popular as a nutrition supplement is its impressive makeup of the proteins beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and serum albumin, which are considered "complete" and "essential" proteins to the human body.
An essential nutrient is one that we must consume to survive, compared to non-essential nutrition that either we don't need or that our body can produce from other mechanisms.
Whey protein helps satisfy the body's protein needs due to its high bioavailability (ability to absorb into the body). 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 protein... good whey, that is. 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 a lot of research have proven undenatured grass-fed whey protein to be a superfood!
And since superfoods are our favorite foods, we made it a mission to bring a premium quality whey under the Wild Foods brand.
Whey typically comprises 1%-8% lactose and trace amounts of casein, making it a usable product for most lactose and casein intolerant individuals.
Due to its long shelf-life and easy-to-make convenience, it has become a staple in the health and fit-conscious individual's program.
Whey protein can serve as a meal replacement in its purest form—with just water—or in a shake or smoothie concoction with other ingredients.
It 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
There are three types of whey protein powder, each varying in its nutritional makeup and how they are made. These are whey protein concentrate (most common), whey protein isolate, 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 being 80% protein.
The remainder of whey contains various amounts of lactose (avg of 1%-8%), fat, minerals, and water.
Whey Protein 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 amino acid used in tissue repair and growth
- Includes cysteine, an amino acid that converts to glutathione, a powerful antioxidant in promoting health and longevity
- Aids in protein synthesis, ideally before and after workouts
- Helps promote muscle growth (important for male, female, young, 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.
- Emerging health properties of whey proteins and their clinical implications
- Effect of whey protein isolate on intracellular glutathione and oxidant-induced cell death in human prostate epithelial cells.
- Whey protein concentrate (WPC) and glutathione modulation in cancer treatment
- Gluconeogenesis and energy expenditure after a high-protein, carbohydrate-free diet.
- Nutritional therapy of chronic hepatitis by whey protein (non-heated).
How "Regular" Whey Protein Is Made
The following is the process of how mass produced whey protein is made. It ain't pretty...
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 not suitable for you.
(This is a proven fact of all food produced in this conditions, especially animals.)
Step #2: Raw Milk Is Cooled And Transported By Tanker Trucks To A Cheese Manufacturer
After this step, the majority of whey protein on the market enters the cheese-making process, which starts with separating the cheese curds from the whey and draining off the whey to make whey protein powder.
This process typically results in multiple forms of heating and processing, all of which contribute to damaging—or denaturing—the proteins in the whey. This denaturing of raw milk destroys the bio-active cysteine-rich proteins, which is the primary health benefit found in raw milk.
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 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 is not ideal, 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 co-packer.
Step #7: The whey powder Is then packed in various retail sizes and then shipped to retailers to sit on a shelf.
How Non-denatured Whey Protein 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 not suitable 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 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 cheese-making 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 give you more muscle growth and faster recovery times.
- Biologically active and non-denatured, Wild Whey is packed with the nutrition only found in nature.
Why choose Wild Whey?
- Because your health, results, and performance matter to you, and you need a protein that reflects that importance!
- Because you want the best!
- Because you want your protein shakes actually to taste good!
