Know the difference: Whey Protein Isolate vs Concentrate

It’s that time of the year again when you decide there’s no way you are going to continue with your life without getting fit. So, you get a yearly subscription instead of quarterly from the nearest gym because you think you are going to make it happen this time. Next morning, you put on your new gym apparel and minutes later there you are among a bunch of big guys lifting heavy ass weights and doing exercises which you have no clue about.

Days later, your gym trainer comes up to you and asks if you do take any protein supplements or not? Then follows is a one-way conversation between a gym trainer and a newbie. And by the end of the conversation, you are browsing through multiple online supplement stores looking for ‘whey protein.’ Yet again you face this dilemma whether to choose whey concentrate or whey isolate? Well, here’s MyFitFuel’s take on Whey Protein Isolate vs Concentrate that’s gonna help you for sure –

Whey Protein Concentrate

If you are following MyFitFuel blog for some time now, then you might have read – Benefits of whey protein, but when we talk of whey protein concentrate or WPC in particular, we talk about a class of whey protein that contains around 80% protein, a little amount of fat and carbs. WPC is widely consumed because it’s cheap, easily manufactured and it’s as effective as its counterpart Whey Protein Isolate.

Whey Protein Isolate

Whey Protein Isolate or WPI is a class of whey protein that contains about 90% protein which is made possible after several ion-exchange and micro-filtration process. It contains the least amount of fat and carbs. A typical 60-gram (2 scoops serving) of Whey Protein Isolate contains around 52-54 grams of pure protein and about a couple of grams of carbs and other ingredients.

Related: Is Whey Protein Good for your Health?

Whey Protein Concentrate vs Isolate: Drawing Conclusion

Let me make this a little simpler for you. For a moment, consider whey protein concentrate as spring water which is a filtered form of natural water but still contains all the essential minerals. Whereas, whey isolate is the purest form of natural water or call it distilled water which is devoid of all other particles except oxygen and hydrogen molecules.

What I mean to convey is that both whey protein isolate and whey protein concentrate are essentially excellent protein sources with a very little fat and carb content.

Whey Protein Concentrate is an ideal choice for all individuals who simply wish to improve their health and stay fit. Moreover, whey concentrate is not passed through as many processes as whey isolate, and thus immune-boosting protein elements like lactoglobulins and lactoferrins do not get washed away.

If you are a bodybuilder or an athlete who is preparing for an upcoming show, then you may want to purchase whey isolate due to its high protein content per scoop, least number of carbs and fats and limited calories. Moreover, whey isolate is known for stimulating better insulin response compared to whey concentrate. Whey Isolate is also best suited for individuals who are lactose intolerant and often have gas and bloating issues.

One of the major difference between whey protein concentrate and whey isolate is their pricing. If budget is your primary concern, then you should certainly opt for whey concentrate as it is priced for about 20-30% less than whey isolate.

However, if you are of the view that no matter the cost the body should always be fed with the best nutrition, then whey protein isolate can be your best buy.

Wrapping up this article, I don’t think it would make a large difference whether you go for isolate or concentrate. Every individual will show a different response to different protein supplements. Choosing between whey isolate and concentrate should entirely depend on your fitness goals.

Also published on Medium.