What is the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate?

An important part of the process of building muscle in the human body depends on consuming the right amount of protein. But the benefits of consuming this macronutrient do not end there. You even need protein to have healthy bones. Beef, sheep, chicken, fish and eggs are the best sources of protein for the body. But you can also use high-quality protein powder. Whey protein powder is the richest source of protein for athletes, which includes all the amino acids the body needs to increase volume and restore muscles. There are different types of whey protein. Do you know the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate? These two are different in terms of amount of protein and fat, price and texture.

What is whey protein?

When milk is processed to make cheese or yogurt, a liquid remains, which is called whey. This liquid contains proteins that are quickly absorbed by the human body.

20% of the protein in milk is whey protein (whey) and 80% of it is casein protein, which is slower to digest in the human body than whey protein.

Whey and casein are both high-quality proteins because they contain all the amino acids the body needs, but whey protein is used more because of its faster and better absorption into the muscles. There are different types of whey protein, the two most important of which are: isolate and concentrate.

The difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate

There are differences between whey protein isolate and concentrate, all of which are related to their processing methods. When in the process of producing yogurt and cheese from milk, whey is collected in liquid form, it undergoes several processing steps to increase the protein content and make it richer. After the protein concentration seems sufficient, the whey liquid can be dried to obtain concentrated whey protein powder. This powder has 80% protein and the remaining 20% ​​is carbohydrates and fat.

In this case, several more processing steps can be done to reduce the content of fat and carbohydrates in whey protein and obtain isolated whey protein. In whey protein isolate, there is 90% protein or even more than 90% protein.

• In simpler terms, in whey protein isolate, compared to whey protein concentrate, the protein content increases and the carbohydrate and fat content decreases. This is the main difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate.

Difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate in the table

The following table shows the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate in each serving that contains 100 calories:

The difference in ingredients in whey protein concentrate and isolate

In addition to having less carbohydrates, whey protein isolate also has less lactose than concentrate. Therefore, if you are allergic to lactose and want to use whey protein, it is better to go for the isolated type. Of course, be careful that in whey protein isolate and concentrate, there are some amounts of lactose anyway, and if the amount of lactose intolerance in your body is too high, you may even have an allergic reaction to the isolated type.

As you can see in the table above, the amount of protein in whey protein isolate is higher than concentrated whey protein. Therefore, people trying to lose weight are often advised to use whey protein concentrate, which has less fat and more protein. Consuming this protein is effective in reducing appetite and helps to lose weight.

The price of whey protein isolate and concentrate

Among other differences between whey protein isolate and concentrate, we can mention the cost you have to pay for their purchase. In general, the price of whey protein isolate is higher than concentrated whey protein.

The difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate in terms of benefits

Whey protein isolate and concentrate have similar benefits. Studies show that the consumption of whey protein, both in the form of isolate and concentrate, will lead to an increase in lean muscle mass in the body. However, there are minor differences in terms of nutritional value between these two types of whey protein that we mentioned. What is important is that the types of amino acids in whey protein isolate and concentrate are almost the same because these two supplements are derived from the same source, milk.

What is the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate?

Whey protein isolate has a softer texture than concentrate and has better solubility. Therefore, if you want to make protein smoothies or protein shakes, whey protein isolate powder will be a better option.

Other types of whey protein

In general, there are 3 types of whey protein:

• Concentrated whey protein: 70-80% protein and contains some fat, carbohydrates and lactose.
• Whey protein isolate: it has 90% or more protein and the proportion of fat, carbohydrates and lactose in it is lower than the concentrate type.
• Hydrolyzed Whey Protein: In this type of whey protein, the whey protein is processed and comes in a form as if it has already been digested. Therefore, it does not cause digestive problems because Peptide It includes smaller ones. Hydrolyzed whey protein has about 90% protein, and the amount of fat, carbohydrates and lactose in it is small.

Is whey protein isolate better or concentrate?

With all these interpretations, you are probably asking which is better to choose between whey protein isolate and concentrate? As we said earlier, whey protein isolate and concentrate are both high-quality proteins that have similar effects in terms of benefits. However:

• If you want to reduce the consumption of carbohydrates, fat and lactose in your body or if you are looking to lose weight, it is better to use whey protein isolate.
• If you are looking for a better taste and weight loss is not your concern, it is better to use whey protein concentrate.

For people who have a sensitive stomach, consuming hydrolyzed whey protein is recommended.

Also, if you have any questions about the difference between whey protein isolate and concentrate, you can ask in the comments section so that our experts at Positive Green can answer you as soon as possible.