Concentrated Whey vs Isolated Whey, which is the best choice?
Whey Protein is undoubtedly the most well-known and used supplement by those who go to the gym, and beyond.
But in addition to there being dozens of different brands and products, there are also different types of Whey.
There is Concentrated Whey, Isolated Whey and also Hydrolized Whey.
We are not going to talk about Hydrolized for a simple reason. It is significantly more expensive than the other two, and the advantages are very few.
So, between Whey Protein Concentrate and Whey Protein Isolate, which is the better buy?
Is it worth paying more for Isolated Protein?
Whey Concentrate
This is the cheapest and also most common way.
It is produced by ultrafiltration of whey and normally offers protein concentrations between 70 and 80%, thus also containing some carbohydrates (lactose) and fats.
Since the concentration of this protein is normally around 70-80%, it means that for every 100g we have on average between 70 and 80 grams of pure protein, which is a very good value.
Furthermore, it has a high amount of BCAA?s and other essential amino acids and is easily and quickly absorbed.
Whey Isolate
The isolated form is basically an improved version of the concentrate.
It can be produced through various filtration techniques and achieves protein values in the range of 85-95%, which is excellent.
Furthermore, due to greater filtration, the fat and carbohydrate values are greatly reduced, reaching zero, eliminating lactose.
For example, in a protein with 95% concentration, we have 95g of high quality protein per 100g.
Concentrated Whey or Isolated Whey?
Whey Concentrate is the most economical whey supplement and is generally well tolerated.
Depending on the concentration, it is an excellent option for those who do not want to spend a lot of money, but still have a quality protein supplement.
In the case of Isolated Whey Protein, the protein concentration is higher, and therefore, the amount of amino acids too.
Not only does it have a percentage of BCAA?s slightly higher, the amount of carbohydrates and fats is lower, and in some cases zero.
Which one do I buy then?
The simple answer in most cases is Whey Concentrate.
A good Whey Concentrate supplement is around 80% of quality protein, with 17-19% of BCAA?s and a cost for every 100g of protein of around 1.50? at 2.50?.
There are several supplements on the market with these characteristics, and simply in terms of quality/price they are the best option if you want a protein supplement.
You can still pass here through our reviews section to help you decide what your next protein should be.
But I'm drying up, isn't Isolated Protein better?
No.
While a Concentrate brings on average around 1g to 3g of carbohydrates per shake, an Isolate is usually between 0g and 2g, depending on the price you are willing to pay.
In the case of fat, Isolated on average has less than 1g, while Concentrated usually contains between 1 and 2g per shake.
The difference is simply too small to have any impact on fat loss, even if you use more than one shake per day.
Does this mean that Isolada isn’t worth it?
Concentrated is undoubtedly the best option when we take into account the quality/price ratio, however, if we only look at quality, Isolated wins.
Not only does it have fewer carbohydrates and fats, but the amount of proteins is greater, and as such, more amino acids and BCAA?s.
You can also use a smaller amount of the supplement to get the protein you want, which ends up reducing the cost.
Furthermore, people with lactose intolerance find Whey Isolate a good option, as several supplements are lactose-free.
So what about the mixes? Are better?
There are several supplements, such as the famous Whey Gold Standard from Optimum Nutrition, which combine Isolate, Concentrate and some Hydrolized.
An Isolated Whey Protein combined with a Concentrate will be better than a Concentrate alone, if it is of good quality.
But an Isolated Whey supplement will always be better than a mixture of these two.
In the specific case of Whey from Optimum Nutrition, it can be said that it is an intermediate between Isolate and Concentrate, which is why it is difficult to justify its price. Ultimately, it's good for marketing.
Don't forget to look at the label, as these types of supplements are more likely to use added amino acids, such as Glycine, Taurine or Creatine, which lowers the quality of the supplement.
Conclusion
Concentrated Whey Protein is the best supplement in terms of quality/price, while Isolated Whey Protein is the best supplement if we look only at quality.
In terms of results, unless you are lactose intolerant, or are preparing for a competition, they will be similar, and therefore, Concentrated is the best option in most cases.
The biggest difference between them is the price, and if money is not a problem for you, choose Isolada.
Just don't expect better results than your friend who opted for good quality concentrate at half the price.
