The
History of Whey Protein
Whey, a particular type of protein, has been found to
be an effective supplement in repairing and building lean muscle mass. Discovered as a by-product of cheese
production 25 years ago, researchers uncovered some surprising benefits to this dairy-based protein.
When compared to all other known protein sources, whey
contains the purest amount of high-quality protein.Whey is easily soluble, and consequently far more
digestible when taken as a shake. Furthermore, whey contains a better amino acid profile than even that
found in the egg white, generally considered nature's perfect food. The only major drawback for using whey
in a supplement program is that it contains excessive amounts of lactose, fat and cholesterol.
Each of the two following techniques extracts the
proteins from the whey, all while preserving the protein’s wholesome integrity.
Cross Flow Micro-Filtration (CFM) - the proteins are
physically separated by a microscopic filter.
Ion
Exchange (IX) - the proteins are extracted by
taking advantage of their specific electronic charges.
Ion Exchange (IX) is a method of filtering raw whey to
make Whey Protein Isolate (WPI), incorporating the use
of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide to help
strip away the undesirable portions of the whey. IX
works well for removing unwanted sugar, fat and
impurities from the whey, but unfortunately also
removes much of the alpha-lactalbumin and lactoferrin
whey protein fractions. This is important because both
of these protein fractions contain health benefits.
Lactoferrin has anti-viral properties and is a potent
immune system booster. Alpha-lactalbumin is much less
allergenic in humans than beta-lactalbumin, which is
found in high concentrations in WPI. Many whey
proteins on the market today have a blend of whey
protein concentrate (WPC) and whey protein isolate.
Benefits
of whey protein
Whey protein contains the highest concentration
(23-25%) of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) of any single protein source. This BCAA content is important
to athletes because BCAAs are an integral part of muscle metabolism and the first aminos sacrificed
during intense exercise and muscle catabolism (breakdown).
Whey protein has the ability to enhance endogenous (naturally occurring in the body) Glutathione
production. Glutathione is the body's most powerful naturally occurring antioxidant and also plays a role
in immune-system support. Whey protein contains quadrapeptides (short protein chains containing four
amino acids) which have been shown to have pain-killing effects. This is another powerful
functional property that can help decrease the sensation of muscle soreness following intense weight
training.
Due to its excellent amino acid profile, solubility and digestibility, whey has a high biological value
(BV). BV is a measure of how well a protein is utilized by the body. Whey protein also has the
ability to help stimulate production of IGF-1, a naturally occurring hormone found in the body that
stimulates muscle growth and protein synthesis.
Whey has been shown to reduce cholesterol by inhibiting LDL (bad cholesterol) production
Whey digests faster than almost all other types of protein. This speedy digestion is a plus because it
gets those much needed aminos to work on the body as fast as possible and allows the body to begin
rebuilding itself as quickly as possible. Utilizing whey protein allows the body to recover and grow lean
muscle mass faster and more efficiently than slower digesting proteins.
TKE’s NEXUS Fat Burning Whey Protein
Whey is an excellent source of protein providing individuals, whether professional athletes or those
seeking to improve their overall fitness level, with the means to efficiently and effectively improve their
overall lean muscle mass. Choosing a high quality whey protein is important. Low quality whey proteins
contain too much fat and sugar and are not optimal sources for muscle repair and growth. While deciding
which brand to purchase can be overwhelming, TKE's NEXUS fat-burning whey protein is formulated to
provide consumers with the highest quality WPC available. TKE offers several popular flavors to
choose from, all aspartame free, easy to mix and smooth tasting. TKE also provides clear, easily
understood information about the molecular weights of its proteins and the types of amino acid bonding.
NEXUS is derived from using Cross-Flow Micro Filtration (CFM) instead of Ion-Exchange Filtration
(IX). One benefit of CFM is that it does not remove the lactoferrin, resulting in higher concentrations of
alpha-lactalbumin and lower amounts of beta-lactalbumin. Therefore, NEXUS retains the
maximum amount of muscle building and health benefits.
NEXUS is formulated with a proprietary lipotropic
blend that contains lecithin. Lecithin emulsifies lipids and aids in fat metabolism. Medical studies
have shown lecithin's health benefits to include lowering LDL "bad" cholesterol, increasing HDL (good
cholesterol), reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, protecting the liver, enhancing physical
performance and increasing brain and memory function.NEXUS does not contain any thermogenic ingredients or
any stimulants.
For a free sample or for more information on NEXUS and
other TKE products, call 888-KUTTING.
Sources:
Azuma, N et al. Advances in dairy foods processing and engineering:
New opportunities from the isolation and utilization of whey
proteins. J Dairy Sci. 79:1454-1459 (1996).
Bounous G., Baruchel S., Fiautz j., Gold P., Clin. Invest.
Med. 1992. C. M. Colker, D. Kalman, W.D. Brink. & L.G.
Maharam. Med. Sci. in Sports in Exercise 1998.
Froetschel
M A.; Bioactive peptides in digesta that regulate gastrointestinal
function and intake. J Anim Sci 1996 Oct; 74(10): 2500-8.
G. Bounous and P. Gold, "The Biological Activity of Undenatured
Dietary Whey Proteins: Role of Glutathione," Clin. Invest.
Med. 14.4 (1991): 296-309.
M. Kajikawa et al. Biochemica et Biophyica Acta, 1994.
Nagasako, Y. et al. Iron-binding properties of bovine lactoferrin
in iron rich solutions. J. Dairs Sci. 76:1876 (1993).
Petschow,
B. et al. Response of Bifidobacteria species to growth promoters
in human and cow milk. Pediat. Res. 29:208 (1991).
R. Sadler, "The Benefits of Dietary Whey Protein Concentrate
on the immune Response and Health," S. Afr. J. Dairy
Sci. 24.2 (1992): 53-59.
Rosanne
K., Fidelus and Min Fu Tsan. Cellular Immunology, 1986. Zhang
X. and Beynen A.C. Brit. J. of Nutri., 1993.
