Ever hear “affordable” and “high quality” in the same sentence when referring to protein?  How about “great tasting” and “inexpensive?”  These are all words that describe Intek’s Protein Evolution.  This protein powder blend consists of whey isolate, egg and casein proteins.  This allows for an immediate and extended release of aminos for an anabolic and anti-catabolic effect.  What’s cool about this protein is that its not loaded with fillers like alot of other brands.  Each 40 gram serving size contains a whopping 34 grams of protein!  I don’t know about you but when I buy protein I want protein and not all that other junk some companies throw in there to water down their product.  With 34 grams of protein per 40 gram serving there is no room for fat, cholesterol, sodium or sugar so this is a protein perfect for dieters or people looking to gain lean muscle.  The story doesn’t end there with Intek’s Protein Evolution though.  Intek also adds fiber and a blend of digestive enzymes to further enhance absorbtion.  That means more protein will actually enter your system and less is wasted; more bang for your buck.  A unique feature of this particular protein is the addition of colostrum.  Colostrum is found in mother’s milk and helps to enhance immune function and increase IGF-1 levels which can lead to increased nitrogen retention.  Increased nitrogen retention equals more lean muscle accumulation.  The icing on the cake is that you get all this in a 5lb jug for $47.99!  If you haven’t tried Intek’s Protein Evolution yet I strongly suggest that you do, you will not be sorry.

Dairy based protein has been shown to be more anabolic than plant proteins.  Of the two main dairy proteins whey elicits a faster rise in plasma amino acids than casein does.  Recent studies have also shown that you should combine whey and casein to build muscle and reduce body fat more quickly. 

It can certainly help.  Replacing some carbohydrates and fats with lean protein increases metabolic rates because the human body burns more calories breaking down protein than other types of food.  Most people consume 12 to 15 percent of their total energy intake from protein.  If protein calories are increased research has shown a metabolism boost.  When people eat more protein, they tend to back off from some very refined carbohydrates. 

Include protein for Breakfast for more Energy

If you breakfast consists of yogurt, cereal, or simply coffee, you may need a protein boost to avoid energy slumps, cravings, and overeating later in the day.

If you’re anything like me you want the absolute best of everything.  When it comes to exercise you want the best facilities and the best training techniques and, of course, the best supplements to promote recovery.  Let’s say you’ve got the first two covered and as an avid gym goer you use protein as your foundation supplement.  There are many different kinds of protein on the market including; casein, whey, egg, soy and even hemp protein!  By now I’m sure you’ve figured out that you should be using whey protein due to its absorbability, high BCAA content, mixability and better flavoring.  But did you know there is more than one type of whey?  From poorest quality to purest, this list includes: whey concentrate, whey isolate, micro filtered ion exchange whey isolate, and hydrolyzed whey isolate.  Ion exchange whey is of the purest quality and hydrolyzed whey is a form of ion exchange whey broken down for enhanced absorption.  Although these are the absolute best types of whey they are not cheap to manufacture and can be a costly finished product.  The people that use Isopure or VP2 know what I’m talking about.  I’ve seen Isopure at $52 for a 3lb and VP2 at $50 for a 2lb!!  Ok, you might just want to wipe down your computer screen real quick because you’re about to kiss it.  I’ve found an affordable ion exchange/hydrolyzed whey protein that actually tastes good, no, scratch that, great.  Fortified with glutamine and a vitamin and mineral complex Intek’s Isolate Evolution Protein is, bar none, the best isolate I’ve ever had.  As an added bonus it contains way less sodium than any of the other isolates on the market and it comes in a really cool see through green jug!  Did you kiss your computer screen yet?  Well if that didn’t do it than let’s talk price.  A 3lb jug fetches just $39.99…seriously; you can stop kissing your computer screen now. 

The answer is yes and no, lets dig into this further to see why.  Post workout is probably the most important time for protein intake and getting some to the muscles quickly has been shown to speed recovery.  Quality and absorption rate are definitely important, see our previous article on protein quality for more info on this topic.  The rate of protein absorption is basically the rate at which the body will break down a given protein and turn it into amino acids which are utilized by the muscles.  Whey protein has been shown to be the most effective and the fastest absorbing of the protein options available.  It is pretty safe to say that whey protein is universally accepted as a good option for post workout nutrition.  What many people get confused about are the varying grades of whey protein; whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, whey hydroslate, whey peptides, etc.  There are also different protein percentages that are found within each protein grade.  For instance you can get a whey protein concentrate that is between 34% and 80%, the 80% being much higher quality than the 34%.  Whey protein that is a concentrate and is 80% protein or a whey isolate are sufficient for post workout recovery purposes or for protein intake at other times of the day.  As the marketers look for new products to push you see variations of whey isolates, and hydroslates being touted as “faster” than regular protein which would supposedly provide benefits to the end user.  Most have interesting stories but before you open your wallet and jump on board understand that you will often pay more and there is not research to support that these proteins actually do absorb more quickly and if they did that you would receive any benefit in performance or body composition.

What is the difference between men’s and women’s supplements?  Is there a protein designed for women and one specifically for men?

When it comes to gender specific supplements be careful that you are not being sucked into clever marketing vs. actual science.  Think about this, have you gone to the store to purchase a women’s steak, a man’s chicken, a women’s apple, etc.  Obviously you haven’t because there is no such thing.  Nutrients as they occur in nature are not gender specific and often with supplements the concept of gender specificity is nothing more than a good story with compelling marketing.  After all who doesn’t want to buy a product that is specifically tailored to their needs?  The problem is that there is usually no science to support the role of the gender specific product.

The one area where gender is relevant is when dealing with products that may influence hormones.  For women products relating to PMS, Menopause or other hormonal factors would necessitate gender specificity.  For men products which boost testosterone or that are related to sexual health would be valid gender specific products.

While there are some valid reasons for gender specific products many companies simply use it as a marketing ploy so make sure you understand what you are looking at before you make a purchase.

Many people think all proteins are created equal.  This is not the case.  Many proteins are chemically altered or manufactured using harsh chemicals.  These proteins will have a low assimilation rate (low rate of absorption), often cause digestive and intestinal problems and can taste terrible. 

As protein costs have gone up many manufacturers have also turned to lower grade proteins.  Manufacturers have the choice of using high quality grades of protein that are primarily protein or the lower grades which use inferior raw materials and are higher in fat, lactose, carbs, and ash.  For instance with whey concentrates manufacturers can choose from a range of raw materials ranging from 34% protein up 80% protein.  In an effort to bring down the cost of products some manufacturers are using the lower grades of proteins rather than raising prices.  The problem with this is that these proteins are not assimilated well by the body and often cause digestive problems.

Most bodybuilders and athletes take in high amounts of protein that are not usable by the body.  As a result they see less results for their training efforts and they are allowing toxins to potentially build up within the body as a result of undigested protein.  Make sure you spend your money on protein that is going to help you achieve your fitness goals.  While affordability is obviously an issue it doesn’t make sense to get a product that will not help you achieve your goals and may cause health issues.

On the inexpensive end we recommend the Pro Whey, when looking at higher quality products check out Pro Complete 40 or Isopure.  For a naturally sweetened product take a look at NOW Foods whey.

SNI Pro Whey is actually a blended protein consisting of whey concentrate, whey isolate Egg Albumin, and Potassium Caseinate.  This product is geared toward the consumer looking for value.  The price point is low but the quality holds up with almost any other blended protein.  Each scoop packs 30grams of protein and because it is a blend of several different protein types it is more versatile than many other products.  It can be used post workout, between meals or even before going to sleep. 

The addition of digestive enzymes makes it easy to digest and the product flavor is good even when mixed in water.

If you are looking for protein value we think this is definitely one of the better options available.

This is one of our favorite proteins and a big part of this is the taste.  This is by far one of the easiest proteins to drink on the market.  Even when mixed in water Pro Complete 40 still tastes great.  The mix ability of Pro Complete 40 is excellent; we prefer using a shaker although it is possible to mix it with a spoon.

This product is over 80% protein which is calculated by taking the number of protein grams per serving (40gm) and dividing it by the total serving size (50gm).  This gives you 80% for Pro Complete 40.  Because flax oil has been added to this product the starting formula comes in at over 80%.  To put this in perspective the highest available protein percentage is between 81% and 82%. 

Pro Complete 40 uses a blend of protein which consists of whey isolates, casein and egg proteins.  The blend is preferred by most athletes as it is the most versatile of any protein.  The whey isolates in the product will get to the muscle quickly providing a quick anabolic jolt of protein.  The casein and egg proteins are digested slowly providing a much slower release of aminos into the blood stream and into the muscle.  This has a strong anticatabolic effect.  The formula is fortified with extra glutamine and BCAA’s which are the primary amino acids needed for muscle repair and recovery.

Because Pro Complete 40 uses higher quality proteins it is easily digested and doesn’t cause gas or bloating which can be seen with lower grade proteins.  Flax fiber and digestive enzymes where added to further aid in digestion and protein absorption.

The health profile of Pro Complete is hard to top.  There are only 100 calories per 20 gram scoop with 0gm saturated fat.  Cholesterol is only 5mg and the sodium is only 17.5mg.

If you have not yet tried this product stop into one of our stores as this company provides us with samples for customers to try out.

Isopure Protein is a pure whey isolate protein.  It is manufactured using a process known as ion exchange which separates the protein from the lactose, carbs and other less desirable components.  Isopure protein is one of the highest quality proteins commercially available.  Whey Isolates have a high rate of absorption and are efficient at increasing protein synthesis and creating an anabolic environment.  The rapid rate of absorption makes these proteins ideal for use immediately before or after a workout.  The rapid rate of absorption can also be a limitation under some conditions.  Used at other times other than immediate pre or post workout and most users of Isopure find that they are hungry within a short period of time.  Isopure protein as well as any isolate protein tend not to be very satisfying (filling) proteins.  As a result of the rapid absorption Isopure Protein is metabolized by the body very quickly leaving a small wind of time in which the protein is feeding the muscle tissue.