What is Whey Protein?

While not all humans are equipped to digest milk sugars, we all have the ability to break down whey protein, the main protein in mother’s milk. In fact, whey protein has recently been found to provide a handful of health benefits as we age.

Whey has been shown to support healthy muscle mass and building, which commonly decrease with age.⁴ Surprisingly, whey protein, while it can help build muscle, has also been shown to support healthy weight loss.⁵

Finally, new research suggests whey protein can support healthy cardiovascular status in an aging population. One mechanism for accomplishing this is the ability of whey protein to maximize production of glutathione, one of the body’s most potent free radical scavengers.³ As we age, we not only lose muscle mass and gain weight, we also produce less glutathione.

Benefits of Glutathione

• linked to healthy blood sugar
• detoxification
• healthy immune system
• healthy nervous system function^1,2

Save Your Muscle Mass

We start losing muscle mass at around age 40: around 8% per decade until 70 and then 15% per decade.⁶ Getting the right, most easily digested protein while you age can save and even build muscles!

Symptoms of Inadequate Protein as You Age

• Poor cognitive function
• Memory concerns
• Poor immunity
• Reduced strength
• Weaker bones
• Decreased recovery time^6,7

Whey protein is rich in branched-chain amino acids, shown to support healthy development of muscle mass and reduce muscle breakdown from aging or calorie-restricted diets.^4,6,7 Whey protein is particularly high in leucine, one of the branched-chain amino acids responsible for supporting and maintaining muscle mass.⁸

Building muscle is not an aesthetic requirement as we age; it is a health requirement. As we age, it’s common for muscles to store or be laced with fat, making the muscle weaker and more metabolically active. Too much sugar in the diet over the years can store as fat in muscles, making you gain weight, have weaker muscles, and become more vulnerable to blood sugar concerns.

We Recommend Are You Protein Deficient? Quiz

Benefits of Whey Protein

• Boosts healthy lean muscle
• Helps you lose weight
• Stabilizes blood sugar^1-7,9

As we gain weight with age, muscles can appear to grow, but are actually weaker and loaded with stored calories, which can disturb blood sugar regulation over time. A diet with more protein as you age is key in healthy aging and longevity.^2,10

Why LifeSpa’s Whey Pure?

For many years, I’ve been asked what protein supplement I recommend. I’m in favor of a whole food diet and I was skeptical of folks overdosing on highly processed protein powders. As we age, however, demands for protein do increase and often a healthy, minimally processed, low temperature protein powder can be very helpful.

A vegetarian plant-based protein powder would be an ideal option, but many of them are heated at very high temperatures and are highly processed. For many reasons, I have chosen a low temperature whey protein powder called Whey Pure instead.

We Recommend Plant-Based Protein Powders: What You Need To Know

Whey Pure, a natural, nutritionally-advanced, bioactive whey protein concentrate, contains immunoglobulins that support the delicate balance of the body’s immune system.

The whey is sourced from New Zealand cows, where herds are free from environmental contaminants and not subject to hormones and antibiotics.

This protein is a rich source of amino acids, including those needed for synthesis of glutathione. This formula is resistant to stomach acid and supports intestinal health. The 80% protein content supports lean body mass.

Whey Pure Boosts Natural Immunity

Whey Pure is rich in immunoglobulins (antibodies) derived from very careful processing techniques under controlled temperature and pH. During a series of steps, lactose and water are removed from a slurry of whey. Special care is taken to maintain integrity of antibodies and optimize the protein complex.

In comparison to fluid cow’s milk and ordinary whey protein concentrate, Whey Pure contains significantly greater concentrations of proteins and immunoglobulins.

Whey Pure can be used not only as a high biological value protein source for healthy individuals, but also to provide immunoglobulins to those in need. The immunoglobulins it contains are almost identical to those of the mammalian species and resist peptic digestion. The immune-balancing effect of immunoglobulins supports the body’s normal defense mechanisms.^11,12

Dose: Supplement with two scoops or 20 grams per day for an ideal anti-aging, muscle mass-saving protein.

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14988435
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3614697/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2692897
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4882708/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18371214
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3780834/
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23867520
8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29031484
9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16002802
10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23231757
11. Bell, SJ. Whey protein concentrate enriched with immunoglobulins. Unpublished review article. [Accessible upon request]
12. Bell, SJ, Forse RA. Positive Nutrition for HIV-Infected & AIDS: A Medically Sound Take-Charge Plan to Maintain Weight and Improve Your Quality of Life. Minneapolis, MN: Chronimed; 1996.