The Health Benefits of Whey, Whey Components, Essential Amino Acids for Active Individuals
Men and women with an active lifestyle are likely to seek benefits that enhance physical well being from both diet and nutritional supplements. Through many studies they found that whey protein and amino acids help to efficiently promote muscle protein synthesis. Other supplements contained within whey- such as calcium and non-fat dry milk have show n to regulate nutrient partitioning, adiposity, and body composition. The facts bring us to conclusion that whey and its components may optimize overall body composition. Throughout this post I will explain the benefits that these supplements provide.
When engaging in physical activity the human body exerts a metabolic stress. Many physiological changes occur during this- releasing of stress hormones and changes in the fuel availability to continue and use.
Whey Protein Structural Formula
The demand for energy, carbohydrate, fat, and protein are taken from what the body stores and used during physical activity. During this catabolic state, exercise is balanced. It changes from an anabolic phase to a recovery phase after exercising. Whey proteins and essential amino acids tend to shift this balance more towards the anabolic phase. The results enhance training, performance, and recovery from exercise. In addition to this, a specific branched-chain amino acid, leucine, within whey plays a powerful role in metabolizing protein. Leucine in abundance helps to initiate this protein synthesis.
Studies have also shown that whey offers an advantage in helping one to achieve their body composition goals beyond the lean mass gains. The study reveals that calcium and minerals from dairy helps to decrease body fat and increase fat loss during times of energy restriction, it has been concluded that whey supplements containing forms of calcium and minerals produce similar results.
One of the benefits that whey and certain amino acids offer is the potential health of the immune system. This is extremely beneficial for athletes, who tend to put their bodies through rigorous training leaving there immune systems vulnerable to multiple types of infections. This includes but not limited to respiratory infections and gastrointestinal health. A few immune-modulating compounds that are a basis for whey are: ß–lactoglobulin, ß-lactalbumin, and cysteine-rich proteins. From this we can conclude that people that “workout” and take the necessary supplements needed for recovery are less vulnerable to illness than people that do not.
A specific amino acid that is considered “essential” for times of metabolic stress or illness is glutamine. It is considered to give energy to rapidly dividing cells during physical stress. You tend to see more whey protein products enriched with glutamine. This amount tends to be, but not in all cases, too low to make a benefical impact. Free form glutamine is available, making it possible to reach an optimal amount.
To sum it all up, whey protein and amino acid supplements are considered to be a high quality source of protein and the building block, amino acids, to help increase lean muscle, speed up recovery phase, and strengthen the immune system with an effective physical training program. We are still constantly learning more about whey and are seeing that its benefits may reach far beyond just muscle anabolism.
The Life Coach | Joshua David Thomas
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