Why YOU Should choose: Optimum Nutriton - Gold Standard 100% Whey AND Some Science-y Stuff

Photo taken from optimumnutrition.com

Happy Sunday! I love Sundays because they are my rest day from everything for the week!! Today I am actually doing my long run, but other than that, it's all play and rest! I actually really enjoy long runs, I get to go as fast (or really, as slow) as I want, for however many miles! Obviously I wouldn't recommend busting out a 10 mile run after little to no training, but those of you who run can most likely identify with the love of long runs!

So a little bit ago I did a review on the supplements I am currently taking. Today I am going a little more in depth on my favorite whey protein- Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey. I want to go over again what whey is and why you should consider taking it, as well as breaking down some of the ingredients in this certain protein powder.

First of all, what is whey? Whey is actually the "by-product" of cheese-making. Whey is a type of protein that has many essential amino acids; in fact, whey protein is the richest natural source of BCAAs. This helps with muscle recovery and strengthening, as well as weight loss. Protein in general helps with these processes, and that is why it is so important for everyone to be getting enough protein everyday! The lowest recommended amount of protein daily (for women) is 60% of your bodyweight in grams (For example, if you weighed 100 lbs, the least amount of protein you should be getting daily is 60 grams). The most (for men) is around 120 to 130% of your body weight in grams. Any more than this will not help you make "extra gains." I personally try to eat my bodyweight in grams of protein per day. Whether you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or all of the above, you need protein! And the right amount of it. Whey should not be your only source of protein, as whey is a supplement. However, it is an excellent supplement as it does contain those essential amino acids, which make up strands of protein in your body. Almost anyone can take whey, except it does contain lactose, so those sensitive to dairy or specifically lactose do need to be careful; some people also have an allergy to whey.

The ingredients in Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey are the following: Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Peptides), Natural and Artificial Flavors, Lecithin, Salt, Acesulfame Potassium, Sucralose, Lactase. 

Whey Isolates, Concentrate, and Peptides? What on earth is the difference?! According to this post, Whey Protein Concentrate is about 80% pure protein, and undergoes a micro-filtered and heat-free process to ensure the purest of protein. The powder has a very smooth and mixable consistency, and is chock full of things like Glutamine and BCAAs.

Glutamine is one type of amino acids. Many bodybuilders take this as a muscle-building supplement. However, some research suggests that it is mostly helpful to build muscles after going through some type of physical trauma, and to aid recovery and rehabilitation.

Whey Protein Isolate (the main ingredient in this protein powder) is about 90% pure protein; this is because it goes through something called Cross-flow Micro-filtration. This separates the protein from the other stuff (fat, cholesterol, and lactose). All of this makes it an even purer protein, and is ideal for maintaining and supporting muscle mass while keeping fat at a minimum. Both Whey Protein Isolate and Concentrate are both low in lactose (Isolate being the lowest), and may be tolerated by those who suffer from lactose intolerance.

 Whey Peptides are "isolates of amino acids" which come from complete whey protein molecules. These are beneficial for your immune system, gastrointestinal health, and increased muscle growth, just to name a few.

Lecithin is a fat that is essential in cells of the body. It is found in foods such as egg yolks, and is used in medicines for its known ability to help with things like dementia and depression, as well as treat diseases in the gallbladder and liver. However, it is commonly used as a food additive to hold the ingredients together. My guess would be that its purpose in this protein powder is to give it a good consistency, especially considering how close to the end of the ingredient list it is (the ingredients should always be listed from the most amount to the least).

Acesulfame Potassium (also known as ACE-K) and Sucralose (Splenda) are both types of artificial sweeteners. This is an EXTREMELY controversial subject- it has been for the past decades- but the research as of right now points to both of these being OK. I learned most of this information by Stephanie Buttermore's latest video, on Artificial Sweeteners. I highly recommend you check out this video, as well as some of her other videos (especially if you like the science/ nerdy stuff!)

ACE-K is very stable at high temperatures, so it is okay to bake and cook with. Your body absorbs all, as in 100%, of the Ace-K it takes in; however it does not metabolize. It goes into your "systemic circulation," and your tissues. It is filtered by the kidneys and your body gets rid of it through your urine. Over 90% of studies have demonstrated and proved that Ace-K is OK! The ADI, or Acceptable Daily Intake, is 15 mg/kg/day. This means that you can safely have 15 mg per kilogram of bodyweight everyday for the rest of your life, without any significant change or harm in your body. This is approximately 30 cans of soda in a single day!!

Sucralose has been deemed non-carcinogenic (YAY), and appears to have no affects on insulin levels. The ADI for Sucralose is 5 mg/kg/day. Both of these artificial sweeteners have been approved by associations such as the FDA and others. Keep in mind there are always more and updated studies being done on this subject, but there is strong evidence that these are safe and okay for you to consume. And if you're wary, just keep the artificial sweeteners to a minimum! As you can see, for this protein powder, they are almost last on the list of ingredients.

Finally, Lactase. Lactase is actually an enzyme that helps your body break down the sugars specifically in milk. Some people's bodies do not produce enough lactase on their own, causing them to be lactose intolerant. It is interesting to note that this is included into this Whey Protein- this special enzyme, along with the low levels of lactate in the specific whey used, should cause this milk-based protein powder to possibly be well-accepted with people who are dairy and lactose sensitive.

In conclusion, this is truly a very high quality protein. Not only is it whey, one of the best sources of protein and BCAAs, but is made of ultra-filtered protein. It has very little else added to it; the artificial sweeteners used are of a small amount, and both are considered to cause no harm in the human body. I have always loved the taste of this protein, but after all this research I am even more convinced of the exceptional quality. Again, I am not sponsored by any companies at this point; I also don't have any fancy certifications or degrees. I have done the research, and linked all the websites and videos and articles I have gotten my information from. I hope this in depth study was helpful to you! It was so interesting to me to learn more about these ingredients and what they do, and I hope it was for you too :) Thank you so much for reading this long, scientific post! Until the next post,
Hannah

Oh and P.S.!!

If you are concerned about your cholesterol and using Whey Protein, read this article! Basically, there have been studies that show it helps to lower cholesterol, however they have been inconsistent. However, whey can be helpful in weight loss, which might have a positive affect on your cholesterol levels. This is another awesome article explaining even more benefits of whey protein! Happy reading:)