JOSH RODRIGUEZ

 

 

 

Background Information: Supplements

 

 

Whey protein is a mixture of proteins isolated from whey. Whey is the liquid part of milk that separates during cheese production. Milk actually contains two main types of protein… casein (80%) and whey (20%).Whey is found in the watery portion of milk. When cheese is produced, the fatty parts of the milk coagulate and the whey is separated from it as a by-product.If you’ve ever opened a yogurt container to see liquid floating on top, this is whey. Cheese makers used to discard it before they discovered its commercial value.

 

After being separated during cheese production, whey goes through a series of processing steps to become what people generally recognize as whey protein… a powder that is added to shakes, meal replacements and protein bars. Whey protein doesn’t taste very good on its own, which is why it is usually flavored. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavored powders are popular. Taking whey protein is a convenient way to add 25-50 grams of protein on top of your daily intake. This can be important for bodybuilders and gym enthusiasts, as well as people who need to lose weight or are simply lacking protein in their diet. The best known use of whey protein supplements is for the purpose of increasing muscle mass and strength. Whey protein is popular among athletes, bodybuilders, fitness models, as well as people looking to improve their performance in the gym.

 

Everyone can benefit from using supplements. They’re not essential, and aren’t necessary and not using them won’t mean your time in the gym is wasted. The casual, gym goer, soccer mom, or middle aged man looking to simply get in shape likely wont have a protein powder, creatine or bcaa on their shopping list. Heck, I’d be surprised if they even knew what creatine and bcaa powder was. However, for any aspiring bodybuilders, power lifters, strongmen, or any one who just wants to be swole, such as myself, supplements are crucial. They are designed to supplement our diet, make hitting macros easier, make our life more convenient, and most importantly, enhance performance and gains. Bodybuilding supplements like whey aren’t magic. They’re not shortcuts. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to rip you off. However the use of supplements can definitely help, providing everything is in check.

 

Supplements are called supplements for a reason. They are supposed to fill the gaps in your whole food diet and help you get more from your efforts in the gym. They are not, nor will they ever be, a replacement for a proper diet or hard work. If you train hard enough, the work you perform in the gym will cause microscopic tears and trauma to your muscles. The work you do outside of the gym—eating, drinking water, stretching, supplementation, and especially sleeping—repairs this damage.

 

Why use Supplements? Researchers at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, took 19 men performing resistance training over a 10-week period and gave some of them 14 grams of whey and casein protein along with 6 grams of free amino acids, while giving the rest a 20-gram placebo. Those who consumed the whey had greater increases in fat-free mass and muscle strength. Numerous studies show that it can help you increase strength, gain muscle and lose significant amounts of body fat .However… whey is more than just protein. There are tons of other nutrients in there, some with potent biological effects. Whey protein has also been shown to have benefits for depression, blood pressure, blood sugar and even helping to treat symptoms of HIV and cancer.