Whey is very beneficial when manufactured for people involved in cardiovascular activity and bodybuilding. Whey comes from cow’s milk and comprised of protein, lactose, fat, and minerals. The protein in whey is most valued and the sports nutritional industry works to develop whey protein supplements with high amounts of protein that can be absorbed quickly and efficiently. Bodybuilders, athletes, and people looking to build muscle are interested in advanced formulas with high nutritional content. One of the newest forms of whey supplements are manufactured by cross flow micro-filtered, cold processed ion-exchanged methods.

Whey has been studied for decades concluding a multitude of benefits. The medical benefits have led to consumption by the mainstream public. Whey’s broad ability to help many systems in the body has made it a very popular product. In addition to helping athletes build muscle, whey protein helps to boost the immune system, reduce blood pressure, and increase serotonin levels in the brain. The benefits noted are just a few of the purported medical advantages of consuming whey products.

The types of whey protein and the best methods for processing them are widely debated. The most common form of whey is whey isolate because it is high in protein and lower in fat and lactose compared to whey protein concentrates. Although higher in fat and lactose, whey concentrates are still beneficial for the body. Whey protein isolates are suited to people looking for whey products less in fat. Although fats have been suggested benefits as well, athletes and bodybuilders want low fat whey isolates.

Whey protein isolates contain 90% protein and higher. The goal for manufacturers is to produce these products in a cool environment to ensure they maintain their immune boosting benefits. This is why cold processing is an important component. Cold processing enable manufacturers to remove lactose and fat without reducing the biological activity in whey required to benefit the body. Cold processing enables whey to remain in a denatured state vital for keeping biological activity active.

Ion exchange is another process for making whey isolates. Ion exchange is a process that takes the whey isolates and produces a higher protein concentration. The ion exchange process is highly debated because of what the process produces. Although ion exchange produces whey isolate more concentrated with protein, many experts feels it is the wrong protein. Protein is made of smaller ingredients called sub fractions. Sub fractions are peptides in protein having different health promoting benefits. The controversy with ion exchange processing is the product of whey protein isolates end up having less biological activity meaning fewer medical benefits. The advantage of ion exchange whey isolate is creating a higher protein per gram supplement but lower in medical benefits.

Cross Flow Micro filtration is another process for manufacturing whey protein isolates. There are various methods of filtration and all of them have the ability to make unique forms of whey. Cross Flow Micro filtration was created and trademarked by Glanbia Nutritionals, a dairy company in Ireland. This method has proven to be one of the best filtration ways to harness the many benefits of whey. The product using this form of filtration is high protein concentration, low lactose and fat, and low denatured proteins. Low denatured proteins means the whey proteins isolates maintain the important constituents for giving the consumer of whey the medical benefits.

Whey protein is a huge component in nutritional supplements. The sports nutrition supplement industry compete to develop the highest-grade whey protein isolate for the consumer. Most would agree the need to process whey in cool temperatures for ensuring biological activity and keeping the medical benefits. Filtration methods vary with different goals in mind depending on the nutritional supplement company. Ion exchange methods are debated because the process produces a higher protein per gram supplement, but with lower levels of ingredients needed to have the medical benefits. The fact remains that whey is an excellent source of protein with many medical benefits. The sports nutrition and nutritional supplement industry will continue to develop innovative ways to take the numerous benefits of whey and harness them into more dietary and sports nutrition products.