The Benefits of Whey Protein - Why you should add Whey Protein to your diet.

Physical Performance

Athletes commonly use Whey protein. It helps them not only maintain muscle mass, but helps in the recover process as well. Due to the intense activity and stress places on the body from exercise, athletes need a little more protein. Whey protein is a great choice because:

• It contain all the essential amino acids for muscle growth
  
• It replenishes muscles and repairs damage
• Easy to use and digest
• Increases immune system health through glutamine

Weight Management

The best way to lose weight it to eat 5-6 small meals a day. I personally love the ease at which I can make a whey protein shake in the middle of the day. By eating smaller meals throughout the day, your blood sugar level stays more level which eliminates blood sugar spikes. This can be very beneficial to those suffering from diabetes. It can also just help prevents hunger cravings. Protein is also slower to digest, which helps keep it in your stomach longer. Whey protein can help you lose weight by:

• Keeping your fuller longer
  
• Few carbohydrates and fat
  
• Leucine helps to preserve lean muscle which burns more calories
  
• Protein lowers blood sugar levels decreasing food cravings
  
• Whey helps to release hunger suppressing hormones

Healthy Aging

Unfortunately, as we age, our bodies start to break down. You can lose up to 3% of muscle a year after the age of 30 if you do not work out. Eating enough protein can help to slow this process down, as well as participating in regular exercises. We have plenty of weight training exercises for you back, chest, legs and more on this site if you need any suggestions. A recent study in Europe compared whey protein to casein, the primary protein in milk. They found that older men who consumed whey protein showed greater protein synthesis, or growth, which helped limit muscle loss over time. That's pretty amazing.

Another one of the great benefits of whey protein is not only can it help reduce muscle loss, because whey is found in milk, whey protein contains calcium. Not only do our muscles breakdown as we get older, but our bones do too. Osteoporosis can set in in old age, especially in women. A recent study conducted at Boston University (my alma mater) showed that elderly individuals who consumed low levels of protein had a significant loss of bone density four years after the start of the study. This was especially true in the hip and spine areas.

Enjoying protein supplementation in your later ages can help maintain muscle mass and bone density.

Damage Repair

When injured, the body requires excess protein for repair. Protein initiates the growth of new skin during healing. If you are not eating enough protein, the process can be delayed. Physicians often recommend whey protein following surgery or burn therapy.

Other benefits of whey protein exist, but these are just a few to give you an idea of how whey protein can help to improve not only your physical fitness, but also your quality of life. Whey protein is not for just 20 and 30 some things, but is a supplement that can be taken for the rest of your life to maintain healthy muscle and bones.