Monday, April 15, 2013

Which Whey Protein Is Best For Building Lean Muscle?

By Russ Howe


These days, it's impossible to learn how to build muscle without stumbling onto the topic of supplements. The industry has boomed over the last ten years, with more and more people opting for meal replacement shakes to help them achieve their goals in the gym. But with so many different options out there, how can you possibly tell which whey protein is best to suit your fitness goals?

Let's face it, it's that time of year again when every supermarket suddenly starts thrusting health products in your face via online promotions and big banners in store. But before you spend any money, it would be a wise move to learn what you should be looking for.

One of the main reasons the supplement industry is such a confusing place is that it's a billion dollar business. One of the main income sources for supplement companies is confused customers who aren't sure what they're looking for. This is why packaging often focuses on hype and promises of quick, easy results rather than giving actual facts about the nutrition contained within the product itself.

However, while the industry itself may thrive upon confusing consumers in a bid to get them to part with more cash each month, the actual information at the foundation of each product is quite straightforward and simple. Much like a muscle building routine, not much has changed over the last 20 years despite the scientific advancements which have been made.

Everybody's different. We all have different body types and goals, so when every product claims to be the best thing ever to hit the market you should take that claim with a pinch of salt to say the least. The three points below will teach you what to look for.

* Look at the first ingredient.

* How much protein can you expect from each serving of the shake you're evaluating?

* As well as the protein content, take a look at the carbohydrate count.

Understanding the three points above will go a very long way to helping you skip past the hype surrounding the products you'll see in your local supermarket and online. Firstly, which blend of protein is the first item listed in the ingredients?

For a protein supplement you'll see one of the three blends of whey listed first. It will read either hydrolized, isolate or concentrate. The difference between these blends is the speed they are digested into the muscles after a workout. Naturally, you want to provide your body with nutrition as quickly as you possibly can when you finish up in the gym, so hydrolized would be the perfect choice. However, hydrolized is usually the most expensive because of these added benefits. If you are on a budget and can only afford to purchase a concentrate formula don't be put off, it is still excellent and it still gets the job done. The actual difference in the performance of the three different blends doesn't justify the huge difference in prices.

How much protein is provided by each shake? Science tells us that our body can only handle between 20 and 30 grams in any one sitting, so all of those products which boast about hitting you with 40-50 grams tend to lead to unwanted fat gain.

Last but not least, let's take a peek at the carbohydrate content. There are two types of supplements in this field. Those which are designed for people looking to build and those designed for people trying to get leaner. If your goal is adding size you want a product which provides you with a good portion of carbohydrates in every shake. If you're trying to get leaner the carbohydrate content should be relatively low.

Now that you know the three most important factors in a supplement, you'll be able to figure out which whey protein is best for you using the simple steps shown above. If you are about to delve into the supplement market for the first time you will now be able to do so in confidence.




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