By Team PrettyFit
With an abundance of research suggesting the importance of adequate protein intake for both overall health and your physique— especially for women— we’re here to show you why whey protein is one of your best options.
In addition to being affordable and delicious, whey protein offers a number of benefits to active women that other protein sources can’t. We’ve highlighted six reasons why whey should be your go to form of protein powder. Read on to learn more!
1. Whey protein builds more lean muscle
There are many types of protein powder on the market, but the most useful for both muscle building and fat-burning programs is whey protein.
Whey protein is a fast digesting, fast absorbing protein. Why is this important? Studies show that its fast absorption rates help stimulate muscle growth better than other slower absorbing proteins. By getting these vital nutrients to your muscles faster, you’ll be able to make more progress quickly and see results faster.
Not only that, studies also show that consuming protein and carbohydrates before a workout has a greater influence on muscle growth than if you were to simply eat them post-workout. For this reason, we recommend drinking a whey protein shake and eating a small amount of carbohydrates 30-45 minutes before your workouts.
Related: Best Protein Powder For Women: How To Choose
2. Whey makes your body burn more calories
In addition to the fact that whey helps build more lean muscle which boosts your resting metabolic rate on its own, studies also show that whey is superior to both casein and soy when it comes to increasing your body’s metabolism.
On top of that, whey was also shown to burn more fat (fat oxidation) compared to soy.
3. It helps control cravings
While whey is the fastest digesting of the various types of protein powder, protein by nature is slow digesting and keeps you feeling fuller for longer periods of time than carbs or fat. This means a high-protein, low-calorie whey protein shake can increase satiety and reduce cravings.
One of the sneakiest ways extra calories get into your diet is through mindless snacking in the late morning and afternoon. So next time you have a workday craving for sweets, consider grabbing a whey protein shake and know that you’re doing your body a healthy, delicious favor!
4. It may help boost your mood
Studies have shown other great benefits of whey protein besides those related to muscle building and fat loss. Some studies have shown that proteins containing large amounts of the amino acid tryptophan can improve stress control, improve coping abilities and potentially increase serotonin (the happy hormone).
Whey protein is naturally high in tryptophan, making it an excellent choice that can potentially boost your mood!
5. Whey can boost your immune system
In addition to strengthening your muscles, whey protein can also strengthen your immune system! Studies show that whey can help boost levels of immune-related proteins and also provide anti-inflammatory support.
Looking for a double dose of immune system boosting exercise? Try working out outdoors and consuming a whey protein shake afterwards. Research suggests exercising outdoors can decrease stress hormones, pulse rate and blood pressure!
6. Whey protein isolate is easily digestible
One of the main beneficial qualities of whey protein is that it is rapidly digested and easily absorbed by the body. This is especially true of whey protein isolate— a further refined version of whey protein that removes additional fats, carbs and lactose.
And since whey protein isolate is so purified, many lactose-intolerant individuals are able to tolerate whey protein isolate— making it an excellent choice for those who are lactose sensitive but still want to get the unique benefits of whey.
Ready to give whey protein a shot? Check out PrettyFit’s All-Natural Whey Protein Isolate. It is a delicious and ultra high-quality whey supplement that comes in convenient single serving packets. Use the code FITRX10 for $10 off your first order plus two free samples!