WHEY PROTEIN – ISOLATE VS CONCENTRATE

By Brandon Pieterse

After you have taken your pre workout supplement, absolutely crushed the workout in the gym and now you need something to aid in your recovery, prevent muscle breakdown and provide nourishment to the muscles, this is whey protein. Before we go into the differences between the two different forms of whey protein, let’s look at what whey protein is, why we take it and the benefits of it. Once we have a clear understanding of what exactly whey protein is, then we can start looking into the different forms of whey, mainly isolate vs concentrate.

In simple terms, milk is separated into two different products. The first being curds, which is what is used in the production of cheese and casein whey, and the second being whey.

Whey is packed with high quality protein, minerals, carbohydrates and fats. The whey is dehydrated into powdered form in order to create a protein powder, providing a high quality protein source. It is easily one of the most versatile protein sources available – we are able to use it in foods, drinks, shakes and so on.

The big question is: which type of whey protein powder do you spend your hard earned money on, isolate or concentrate?

Both isolate and concentrate have their pros and cons. Firstly, we shall have a look at whey concentrate.

Concentrate is a more natural form of whey, and has more health promoting benefits, as it doesn’t go through any further filtration process. It’s the cheaper option of the two. However, it does have slightly lower protein content, ranging from around 70%- 80%, and a higher fat and carbohydrate content.

If you are looking for something cheap and you are not super strict on counting your macros, a whey concentrate will be the ideal choice for you.

Isolate on the other hand is considered to be a more ‘pure’ protein. However, it goes through more filtration than concentrate, thus making in the more expensive of the two forms of whey. The added filtration process creates a product with a higher protein count, sitting at around 90% and above.

As well as a higher protein count, isolate has a lower fat and carbohydrate content. Isolate also has a lower lactose content, making it more suitable to those that are lactose intolerant or sensitive to lactose. The protein absorption rate in isolate is also higher than concentrate. This means that your body is able to utilise the protein much more quickly after an intense workout.

If you are on a strict diet and counting your calories – and macros is a major part of your training and spending a few extra pounds doesn’t matter to you – then isolate is the whey (get it?) to go.

In conclusion, the whey you chose to use in your diet can depend on a few factors. If you are after a whey protein that won’t break the bank, that gets the job done, and you’re not overly concerned about a few extra calories, then whey concentrate is the one for you. However, if your diet and calorie intake is intensely regimented, and spending a bit more is worth the extra protein and the lower fat and carbohydrate intake, then whey isolate will be the whey for you.

Below is a macros vs cost comparison of concentrate whey and isolate whey from a major supplement company*.

• Flavour – Chocolate
• Serving size – 30grams
• Bag size – 1 kg (33 servings)

Table Comparison – Isolate vs Concentrate

Bar Graph Comparison – Isolate vs Concentrate

*Source: Brand website. Both the isolate and concentrate are of the same weight and flavour etc.