Types of Whey Protein

Whey and casein are two of the most popular protein supplements on the market, and for good reason. They're both high-quality, highly bioavailable, complete proteins that are particularly rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which makes them great for muscle growth and repair.

At the end of the study, whey protein was much more successful than egg white protein at satisfying hunger and warding it off. But what about exercise performance and body composition? Interestingly, whey protein has shown potential in improving both of these aspects of fitness. Egg white protein, however, has not proved itself effective in these areas.

Whey protein is an animal source derived from milk, and hemp protein is a vegetable source derived from the Cannabis sativa plant. Both provide all of the essential amino acids, but in varying amounts, and both can be consumed to meet your dietary protein needs.

One primary difference between whey and pea powders is that whey is a “complete” protein, meaning that it contains all essential amino acids, and pea is an incomplete protein. Whey is a byproduct of cheese-making, so it is a type of animal protein as well as a dairy product -- and all animal proteins are complete.

Although whey protein isolate is known to be the purest protein source available, containing protein concentrations of 90 percent of higher, the problem with isolates is that the proteins can often be denatured due to manufacturing, making it harder on your digestive tract.

Weight gainers and whey protein are intended to assist in muscle gain when combined with an exercise program. Photo Credit: kzenon/iStock/Getty Images Whey protein supplements and weight gainer supplements are considered useful for weight lifting and other athletic pursuits due to their protein content.