Raw Whey Protein and Whey Protein Isolates — Which Is Better

Protein is one of the most important nutrients required for the body as it carries out functions like boosting the growth of bones and aiding the repairing process of the muscle tissues. Most sources of this nutrient are animal-based since protein needs to be paired with essential amino acids in order to be completely absorbed. 

One of the more common sources of this nutrient include protein supplements like raw whey protein, which are designed to meet the recommended daily intake of protein for the day. There are different type of whey protein such as whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, etc. 

Let us understand more about the nuances of raw whey protein and whey protein isolate.

Understanding Raw Whey Protein

Typically, raw whey protein is a product that is extracted when cheese solids are separated from the milk. The milky white substance that comes out during the process is actually full of pure protein that can be harnessed as a potential nutritional supplement. 

The liquid is then processed into a powder through dehydration and is incorporated with certain compounds such as isolated proteins, flavouring substances, artificial sweeteners, etc in order to make it more nutritious and practical to consume. Raw whey protein is just the substance that you get after the milk solid extraction, without the added presence of any chemicals or flavours. 

Raw whey protein is rich in nutrients like peptides, minerals, and antioxidants which help in fighting off inflammation and give you a more natural protein intake as it is processed under very low temperatures. 

Benefits Of Raw Whey Protein

Given below are some of the benefits of consuming raw protein:

• Lowering Cholesterol Levels: Having a high cholesterol count can lead to several complications in the long run. An important whey protein benefits is that it can help lower LDL or bad cholesterol levels while simultaneously boosting HDL or good cholesterol.  Additionally, raw protein has been proven to regulate elevated insulin and lipid profiles when supplemented for a period of 12 weeks or more.
  
• High Absorption:  Another whey protein benefits is that raw protein has a similar amino acid profile to the typical whey protein supplements, which means that the amino acids in it are easily absorbed by the body without any issues. Our kidneys excel at absorbing and promoting the digestion of raw whey protein. Any excess or undigested protein is easily processed by the liver, which then converts the protein into a form of uric acid and gets flushed out from the blood via micturition.
  

Understanding Whey Protein 

Whey protein is primarily synthesised by isolating a group of protein-rich components from milk during the production of cheese. After the fatty milk solids have been separated from the mixture due to coagulation, the milky, watered-down substance obtained during this process is then dehydrated and produced into a powder. This leads to the processing steps for whey protein isolate. 

Whey Protein Isolate is a dairy-free whey alternative for those diagnosed with lactose intolerance. It is chemically processed to only eliminate every other component other than the protein present in the substance, making this type of whey protein the most effective choice of protein supplementation. 

The main difference between whey protein and whey isolate is that while whey protein concentrate may contain a certain amount of lactose, whey isolate is completely free of any milk sugars, making it the ideal choice for people diagnosed with lactose intolerance.

Benefits Of Whey Protein Isolates

• Regulates Appetite: One of the most important whey protein benefits is that it helps control our appetite by limiting the release of hunger inducing hormones such as ghrelin and boosting the secretion of peptides. Protein also has a very densely packed structure which means that you get a higher amount of protein within the same quantity of food.
  
• Regulates Cognitive Functioning: Consuming this type of whey protein helps boost the concentration of oxygen present inside the brain, along with stimulating the release of neurotransmitters. This is helpful for improving the concentration levels of the brain, stabilizing our mood, and preventing the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson. 

• Boosts Weight Loss: Our body’s metabolic activity is one of the primary determining factors for weight loss since it uses up all the stored fat to generate units of energy that keeps us fuelled throughout the day. Consuming nutritional supplements such as whey protein in combination with an effective workout regimen can help boost our natural metabolism and burn more fat. 

Digestibility Of Raw Whey Protein Vs. Whey Protein Isolate

Typically, the whey protein supplements that you usually consume are incorporated with some form of digestive enzymes to make them more absorbable for your stomach. This increases the effectiveness of the protein and helps in the better release of energy. 

The only possible disadvantage of consuming raw protein powder is that since it is unprocessed, it contains all the fat that is originally present in the milk. On the bright side, it also contains a lot of glutamine and branched chain amino acids that are useful for bodily functions. Additionally, the fat present in raw protein powder can also be beneficial for synthesising the production of hormones and aiding the absorption of essential nutrients. 

This makes whey protein isolate the obvious winner over raw protein powder since it not only offers the same levels of digestibility, but is also completely dairy free, making it the perfect choice for those who follow specific diets such as vegetarianism or veganism. 

Recommended Intake Of Protein

The Food and Nutrition Board of the Indian Medical Association recommended to us a general rule of thumb to measure out the daily intake of protein – wherein we consume one gram of whey protein isolate per one pound of body weight. This number can also be higher in the case of athletes and bodybuilders since they burn up a lot of protein than the average person.

Given below is a table that illustrated the average raw whey protein and whey protein isolate requirements of individuals depending on their age: 

Conclusion

Whether you consume raw whey protein or whey protein isolate, always make sure to consult with a doctor before adding sources such as protein supplements to your daily nutritional intake. Also make it a point to get a majority of your protein from natural whole foods – only use protein supplements as a way to fill in the nutritional gap and not as actual replacements for mels.