What exactly is whey protein?

Whey protein is derived from cow's milk. When cheese is made from milk, curd and whey is formed. This is where whey comes from. Whey is usually in powdered form and easily mixes in water or milk.

Whey tends to be available in concentrate or isolate form. Concentrate is usually a blend of different proteins and is cheaper than whey protein isolate. Isolate is whey in its purest form and is absorbed more quick than cocentrate. However, you can't go wrong with either as the difference in effectiveness is negligible.

On a bodybuilding diet, you have to consume a good amount of protein. Sure you can decide to get all of your protein from food, but I think that his is not practical. Most of us can't spend too much time in the kitchen preparing our meals. Also, whey is absorbed faster than solid foods. You will need a steady supply of fast acting protein while you workout.

Whey contains all of the amino acids and branched chain amino acids that you need. So drinking a protein shake during your workout is crucial. I advice you to take a whey shake everyday, including days when you don't workout.

What to look for in a whey shake

I recommend that you buy a whey shakes that have at least 20 grams of protein per serving. Anything less, and you are not getting your money's worth. Whey is usually available in 2 or 5 pound tubs. Since you will be using whey often, get a 5 pound tub.

One thing that I noticed is that most whey powders contain artificial sweeteners such as sucralose and aspartame. Although there is not much evidence for the damaging effects of artificial sweeteners, I avoid them.

I recommend that you avoid whey products that have such sweeteners. Look for whey protein that is sweetened with stevia or xylitol . Stevia is a herb that has natural sweetening properties. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol that is dervied from vegetable and fruit sources. Both are healthier options over artificial sweeteners.

Some brands that contain stevia are Muscle Gauge Nutrition, Healthy n Fit, and Trueprotein.com

Personally, I like Muscle Gauge Nutrition for their excellent flavors and price. So far, I have only tried their "cake batter" flavor and it really does taste like the real thing.

Bodybuilding.com is a great place to get your supplements. The prices are great and shipping is fast.