Whey
protein has been around for awhile, it's actually the most popular
protein supplement on the market today. Convenient, versatile
and easy to use, whey protein has been adopted by many fitness
enthusiasts, weightlifters and bodybuilders around the world because
it's a great muscle builder. Here are a few reasons why whey protein
is good for building muscle:

Rich
in protein
If
you lift weights or exercise regularly, you should know by now
the importance of protein for your body. Protein is simply a chain
of amino acids which are essential for our bodies whether it is
to repair and rebuild muscle tissues or other bodily functions.
One scoop of whey protein contains about 20-30 grams of protein
which is quite a lot.
To
calculate how much protein you need everyday, consider 1 gram
of protein per pound of body weight, so if you weigh let's say
150 pounds, you'll need 150 grams of protein per day. Divide that
into 6 small meals, that's 25 grams of protein per meal.
Contains
branched chain amino acids(BCAAs)
Whey
protein contains branched chain amino acids called Leucine, Isoleucine
and Valine and these 3 important amino acids play a key role in
building muscle. Actually BCAAs trigger key enzymes which are
essential for protein synthesis and better protein synthesis equals
to better muscle gains. In addition, BCAAs prevent muscle catabolism
and boost muscle recovery. 1 scoop of whey protein has 4-6 grams
of BCAAs.
Contains
glutamine
Glutamine
is the most abundant amino acid found in the human body. Glutamine
helps protein synthesis, minimizes muscle breakdown by acting
as an anti-catabolic agent and aids protein metabolism. During
intense workouts, glutamine levels become depleted and this reduce
recovery, strength and stamina. Proper glutamine supplementation
is vital and whey protein contains a good dose of glutamine per
scoop at 4-5 grams. Another major benefit of glutamine is it increases
your natural growth hormones meaning more muscle mass. According
to a study, just 2 grams of L-Glutamine can boost growth hormones
by a staggering 400%.
Fast
digestibility
Whey
protein ranks highest in the protein biological value(BV) ladder
notably whey protein isolate which has a BV of 156. The higher
the BV value, the faster the digestion and absorption rate. Whey
protein isolate is a fast-digesting protein which is really effective
and convenient for building muscle fast primarily post-workout
when your muscles are starving for nutrients and feeding your
depleted muscle tissues with fast-acting protein is crucial at
this critical point in time. A sample post-workout protein shake
would include 6 oz skim milk + 1 medium frozen banana(to replenish
depleted glycogen stores aka energy storage cells) + 1 scoop of
whey protein isolate. Mix in a blender for a nice refreshing shake.
Low
in carbs and fats
If
your goal is to build muscle and stay rather lean and shredded,
you should limit your carbs and fat intake and whey protein should
definitely be one of your protein sources. Whey protein notably
the whey isolates contain only 3-5 grams of carbs and 0.5-1 gram
of fat.
Used
as meal replacement
Since
whey protein is convenient and handy, it's really practical for
anyone building muscle. Although your nutrition should rely mostly
on whole foods, there are times when a protein shake is handy
since you might not have time to cook a meal. Whey protein can
be used as meal replacement at times, hence you can still get
your protein intake for the day fast even if you're busy.
Great
for hardgainers
Whey
protein can easily be used by hardgainers to gain more muscle
mass. Nowadays weight gainers containing whey protein and other
ingredients like Maltodextrin are popular on the market. Another
alternative is to simply buy a whey protein isolate and add your
own ingredients like whole milk, bananas, berries, peanut butter
to boost the calories and create your own homemade weight gainer.
Easy
to maintain muscle mass
When
you're not training as often as you should, say taking a break
or vacation, it's important to keep up with your nutrition to
maintain your muscle mass and if you can't keep up with your nutrition
100% percent, having a few whey protein shakes per day is very
convenient to sustain your muscle mass. Mixing one scoop of whey
with skim milk is a very fast way to have a quick protein meal.
Below are some of the best whey protein for building lean muscle
mass.