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Among the multitude of benefits, whey protein is famous for increasing muscle gain and strength.
Whey protein is not only the best friend of huge and hulking bodybuilders. If you are training hard and heavy and are making sure that your diet is filled with high amounts of protein, veggies rich in vitamins and fibers and complex carbs, but you are still not getting the results you’re after, whey protein will most definitely help you get your ideal physique faster.However, getting a spectacular look shouldn’t be the only reason to incorporate it into your diet. We present you the top 6 benefits that whey protein has for your overall health.
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1.It preserves muscle mass and reduces body fat
Have you ever tried decreasing daily calorie consumption in the hopes you would lose the excess fat? One study which lasted for 12 weeks had its participants reduce their daily calorie consumption by around 500 calories. Afterward, they gave some of the subjects whey protein and to the rest, they gave an isocaloric mix beverage. The ones that took whey protein lost a much bigger amount of fat (around 6%) and preserved much more muscle mass. So, if you get the sudden urge to have a snack, go for a whey protein bar.
2.It increases muscle strength and size
If you are in the gym training hard and heavy to get big and strong, whey protein is the perfect ally. A study was made where 20 men were put on a 10-week long workout program and one group were given 15 grams of casein and whey protein with 5 grams of BCAAs (Branched-Chained Amino Acids), while the rest took 20-grams of placebo. The ones who took the whey protein experienced a bigger increase in muscle strength and lean muscle mass. The study also found out that it is essential that you consume the whey protein an hour before working out and an hour after it.
3.It decreases hunger
Whey protein has been shown to drastically decrease hunger, thus helping you avoid unnecessary fat accumulation. A study was made were 30 overweight men had to drink four different beverages. The ones that drank the beverage that had 50 grams of whey in it experienced a significant reduction of ghrelin levels, which is one of the hormones regulating hunger, lasting for 4 hours. So, instead of eating unhealthy snacks, consider drinking a whey protein shake.
4.It fights cancer
Cancer is a terrible illness that has affected millions throughout the world. Luckily, there are numerous ways to prevent it and protect yourself against it. The most widely used method is to regularly check for the specific kind of cancer that might run genetically in the family. Numerous studies have proven that whey can help you in fighting off some very common cancer types like on the prostate or the colon. If you find yourself to be at risk, get checked immediately, follow the advice of your doctor and try to incorporate whey into your diet.
5.It helps you cope with stress
Stress is the number one reason why people often reach for alcohol or various drugs in order to cope with it. Numerous studies claim to have found a much better substitute for the people prone to being more stressed. One study, in particular, that was made on 60 subjects, put the same subjects through stressful situations and found that the ones who took whey protein had much fewer depression symptoms and seemed to be in a much better mood than the people who didn’t take it. They presumed that this was due to the changes in the serotonin levels in the brain. So, instead of drinking hard liquor, go for a tasty when protein smoothie or shake.
6.It improves the immune system
If you seek to improve the immune system, consuming whey protein would be the right choice. One study found that subjects that were doing a very hard aerobic activity had significantly decreased glutathione levels that are capable of affecting the gastrointestinal, nervous and immune systems. But they also found that with whey protein supplementation, the same participants had a much lesser decrease in glutathione levels. If you are used to doing prolonged cardio activities but don’t want to have reduced glutathione levels, you can prevent that effect by consuming whey protein.