One of the primary proteins from dairy products is whey protein. It is a byproduct of making cheese. There are several reasons why whey protein is good for your health, the main one being that it contains the essential amino acids your body needs to carry out its functions properly. Grass-fed whey protein, which typically comes in the form of a powder, can particularly provide many health benefits. Let us take a look at five reasons why grass-fed whey protein is so important for your health.
1. The Essential Amino Acids of Grass-fed Whey Protein Help with Things Like Muscle Growth
Grass-fed whey protein contains all of the essential amino acids that are needed for things like muscle growth and repair. On the other hand, plant proteins tend to be low in essential amino acids like leucine, which is known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and anabolism.
2. You Get More Nutrition from Taking Grass-fed Whey Protein
Many people take grass-fed whey protein isolate to enhance their athletic performances, but it can also be taken to prevent nutritional deficiencies. As you have probably guessed, grass-fed whey protein differs from standard whey protein in that the former comes from cows who are fed grass. Whey protein that comes from naturally grass-fed hormone-free cows is loaded with additional nutrients that are not present in conventional whey protein products. For instance, when cows are grass-fed, it means the whey protein contains:
- More omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart and for reducing inflammation.
- More beta carotene, which can firm up your immune system.
- More vitamin D, which has many benefits, including improving your mood.
- More conjugated linoleic acid, which can help with weight loss.
3. Grass-fed Whey Protein Does Not Contain Any of the Stuff That Is Bad for Your Health
As briefly mentioned above, grass-fed whey protein powder is non-hormonal. When animals are subject to hormonal or antibiotic use, traces can be found in the whey protein and end up in your system, so it is always best to go with a non-hormonal whey protein. In fact, grass-fed whey protein typically does not contain any of the bad stuff you will often find in conventional whey products. Always check the label to make sure, but the majority of grass-fed whey proteins are gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO. If you are concerned about certain additives, grass-fed whey protein should definitely be your choice.
4. The BCAAs in Whey Protein Have Several Health Benefits
Grass-fed whey protein contains high levels of branched-chain amino acids, which can increase your energy for workouts, reduce fatigue from exercise, decrease soreness from exercise, and improve muscle growth. As well as being found in whey protein, BCAAs can be found in protein-rich foods like eggs and meats. In one research study, the participants who drank around five grams of BCAAs after a resistance workout had a 22% increase in muscle protein synthesis in comparison to the participants who took placebos.
5. Your Immune System Could Be Boosted by Taking Grass-fed Whey Protein
Although more research is required, many experts agree that taking grass-fed whey protein could boost your immune system. The reason is grass-fed whey protein contains the amino acid cysteine. Glutathione is thought to play a role in the maintenance of a strong immune system and cysteine is a precursor to glutathione. Compared to other animal-based proteins and plant-based proteins, grass-fed whey protein has the highest levels of cysteine.