{"id":98948,"date":"2018-11-01T11:41:31","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T16:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=98948"},"modified":"2026-03-10T14:10:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:10:09","slug":"chugging-your-protein-its-whey-easier-than-you-think","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/health-fitness\/nutrition\/chugging-your-protein-its-whey-easier-than-you-think\/","title":{"rendered":"Chugging Your Protein: It’s Whey Easier Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re serious about working out and weight training, you need to be serious about your protein consumption. Protein provides the amino acids your muscles need to rebuild and get stronger after a training session. It also helps you feel satiated, which is useful when you\u2019re trying to lose weight. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a general guideline, active folks should aim to get .5 to .8 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day. If you’re doing really intense barbell training, shoot for .8 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s possible to get all the protein you need from eating whole foods like eggs, chicken, fish, meat, and even some vegetables, but it can require eating a lot of food, which means you\u2019ll need to spend a lot of time preparing that food or paying a lot of money for someone else to prepare it for you. <\/span><\/p>\n

A supplement in the form of whey protein can help you hit your protein goals cheaply and with almost no hassle. Just a little decision making and commitment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Below I share how I chug my protein. Perhaps it will give you some ideas on how to chug yours.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which Type of Protein Supplement Should You Use?<\/h3>\n

There are different types of protein powders on the market to choose from that have different benefits and costs: casein, soy protein, egg albumin, etc. Unless you have some sort of digestive intolerance or dietary restriction, you\u2019ll get the best bang for the buck by using a supplement made from whey, which comes from milk and is a byproduct of the cheese\/yogurt-making process.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whey protein has <\/span>a higher biological value<\/span><\/a> (the quality of the protein based on how efficiently the body utilizes it, which correlates with having a high supply of essential amino acids) than any other protein source, including beef, eggs, beans, soy, and casein. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whey comes in the form of both concentrate and isolate, and you want a protein supplement that is primarily composed of the latter. Whey isolate <\/span>contains a higher percentage of pure protein than whey concentrate, and is processed to contain less lactose, carbohydrate, fat, and cholesterol. Isolate can also be easier on the stomach than whey concentrate.<\/span><\/p>\n

While a bit more expensive than whey concentrate, whey isolate is still relatively cheap.<\/span><\/p>\n

So for the most part, stick with a supplement that\u2019s primarily made with whey protein isolate (make sure it\u2019s listed as the first ingredient on the label).<\/span><\/p>\n

What Brand of Whey Protein Should You Use?<\/h3>\n

So you should use a protein supplement that\u2019s primarily whey protein isolate, but which particular brand should you get? <\/span><\/p>\n

My recommendation is to find the \u201ccleanest\u201d supplement that fits your budget. The kind of protein that you grab off the shelf at Walmart is affordable, but contains fillers, additives, and artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. While I\u2019m not a purist about no-artificial-anything in my diet, when it comes to whey protein, which you may be consuming several servings of every day, you don\u2019t want to be slamming back junk.<\/span><\/p>\n

That being said, your choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and what\u2019s important to you. There are tons of whey protein isolate products out on the market with different tastes, textures, nutritional profiles, and price points.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 3 of my recommendations in 3 different categories of preference: <\/span><\/p>\n

Cleanest\/Best Taste<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Ascent<\/a><\/p>\n

In pursuit of a clean whey protein isolate, I used the <\/span>Jay Robb brand<\/span><\/a> for awhile, which is made without anything artificial and gets its whey from the milk of grass-fed cows. But it wasn\u2019t my favorite: it had too much stevia-based sweetness for my taste and it\u2019s really expensive — about $1.80 per serving.<\/span><\/p>\n

I recently switched to <\/span>the Ascent brand<\/span><\/a>, and it may be my favorite whey protein supplement yet. Here\u2019s why I like it:<\/span><\/p>\n