How to Chose the Right Whey Protein Powder for Best Bodybuilding Results

As soon as you walk into any bodybuilding supplements store, your eyes are treated to rows and rows of competing brands of protein powder. And you wonder as I did what is the difference between all of these protein powders. And which one of these is the best choice for my muscle building goal?

The first thing you should know... is that there are different sources of protein powder. There is whey protein powder, milk, egg or even soy.

So let's break those down some more and dig in...

You have your whey isolate, whey protein concentrate, hydrolyzed whey, calcium caseinate, egg white, whole egg and on and on.

So let's clear up the mystery of protein powder and you shouldn't have to treat it like a black box anymore.

But let's first ask ourselves what exactly is the benefits of protein powder? Glad you asked here...

Protein powder is a cheap and readily accessible source of good quality protein that your muscles NEED to have to repair itself and grow bigger. Sure... you can get all the protein you want from food sources... but it is MORE expensive and requires MORE eating!

And besides... drinking down a protein shake is the fastest way to consume a large quantity of protein and calories.

And this will be important after you workout when your muscles are screaming for protein!

There Are All Different Kinds of Protein Powders. Which One is Best?

Whey protein powder is comprised of 20% of total milk protein. It is a by-product of cheese manufacturing made from cow's milk. It has lots of amino acids and is quite easy for your body to digest.

Casein protein powder makes up about 80% of the total milk protein. It also has an excellent amino acid profile. Unlike the whey protein powder... it takes your body a little more time to digest. Ideally, casein protein doesn't make a good during and after-workout protein shake. The reason being is while working out and right after you are done working out... your muscles NEED protein. And it needs it fast... you need a protein powder that can be digested faster by your body.

Soy proteins are pretty controversal and I like to avoid them whenever I can. Many scientific research suggests that soy products can be harmful to your health. My suggestion? choose another source of protein and stay away from soy powders.

A blend protein powders is another option. It is usually a combination of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, egg protein, casein protein and sometimes... soy protein. I think blends are good when you want the full spectrum of proteins that can be digested over a longer period of time. Blends are also NOT good for during and after post workout shakes.

Most whey protein powders are mostly whey concentrate mixed with a smaller portion of whey isolate. It is cheaper that way. You see... whey isolate is a superior source of protein but it cost more. Also... whey isolate has less fat.

So the supplement manufacturers mix both forms of whey together to get a better protein profile plus less fat at cheaper price.

As I said before... whey isolate is the best... and the expense may not be worth it when you consider that it doesn't necessarily give you bigger muscles. My conclusion is that whey isolate powders alone doesn't justify the additional cost.

How to Use Whey Protein Powder -- the Right way!

Knowing that Whey protein powders are utilized by your body faster... I would use this powder before, during and after you workout. And I would drink this protein shake when you wake up in the morning. And that is because all those times... your body needs protein NOW!

All other times... drinking the casein protein shakes is perfectly fine. It is slowly digested by your body and gives a steady stream of protein to support your muscles while resting.

You can however use protein powders as a meal replacement but keep this in mind... your body wasn't designed to drink meals. So focus on preparing good nutritious meals -- several times a day. I think it is OK to use protein shakes as a supplement but not as a permanent source of meals.

Another thing to keep in mind when selecting your protein powder. Most of them have artificial sweeteners and colors in them. Some folks (including me) have bad reactions to artificial sweeteners. You may have to look around but there ARE reasonably priced products that don't have man made chemicals in them that in my opinion is much better for long term health.

There you have it... you probably know more than most people about protein powders and how to maximize its benefits to grow your muscle mass.