When you step into the fitness world and are a beginner level athlete or fitness enthusiast, it can be intimidating to choose the right kind of fitness supplement for yourself. Most people opt for whey protein powder, but did you know there are other kinds of protein supplements also available. Vegan people tend to choose plant based protein supplements, those with lactose intolerance choose whey protein isolate supplements, and for those who want to gain weight a casein protein supplement is the best option.
Let’s understand these different types of protein supplements in detail.
- Whey protein
Whey protein and casein protein are both part of cow’s milk. Whey protein powder is obtained as a by-product during the cheese making process. The liquid whey that’s obtained is separated and goes through various stages of filtration and purification. The end product is pure and potent whey protein powder. Based on the stages of filtration, there are three types of whey protein – whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and whey protein hydrolyzed.
- Plant-based protein
Plant-based protein is the one which is derived from plant sources like tofu, soy, tempeh, lentils etc. It is the perfect option for vegetarian and vegan people who want a good quality protein supplement in their fitness routine.
- Casein protein
Casein protein is a slow digesting protein and shows best results when you take it before bedtime. Due to its slow digesting property, it almost becomes a time release supplement. Once you consume casein protein supplement, it takes around 7 hours to fully digest it and get absorbed in the body. There are two types of casein protein – Micellar Casein and Casein Hydrolysate.
Whey protein benefits
Some of the main whey protein benefits –
- It is a rich source of protein and provides your daily protein requirement
- Helps in weight loss and weight management
- Reduces muscle breakdown and muscle cramping, especially after intense workouts
- Promotes muscle growth while you stay lean
- Helps overcome post-workout fatigue and tiredness
- Boosts immunity and metabolism
Best GNC protein supplements
- GNC Pro performance Whey Protein
When listing the top-selling whey protein supplements, we cannot miss GNC Pro Performance Whey Protein. It is a macronutrient rich formula that is ideal for all kind of fitness requirements. Each serving provides 24 g muscle building protein to improve your exercise performance, 5.5 g BCAAs that help prevent muscle wastage, and 9 g essential amino acids to help gain lean muscles and to boost immunity.
It is available in various delicious flavors – mango smoothie, kesar pista, café mocha, fudge chocolate, strawberry, chocolate supreme, mawa kulfi, and vanilla cream. It has all the whey protein benefits like – – helps improve stamina and athletic performance, aids faster muscle recovery, helps gain lean muscle mass, is enriched with digestive enzymes which makes it easy on the stomach, reduces tiredness and muscle cramps, and is instantized for better metabolism. There are three ways to enjoy this whey protein – mix it with water or milk to make a protein shake, blend it with yogurt and fruits to make a smoothie, or add it to various recipes like oatmeal, waffles, homemade protein bars etc.
- AMP Gold Series 100% Whey Protein Advanced
GNC AMP Gold Series 100% Whey Protein Advanced is one of the best whey protein supplements for intermediate to advanced level athletes and fitness enthusiasts. It has all the whey protein benefits and will help you build lean muscles. It is a premium quality ultra-filtered protein-rich formula with the right balance of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and whey protein hydrolyzed.
Each serving provides 24 g high quality protein, 5.5 g naturally occurring BCAAs to prevent muscle breakdown after strenuous workouts, 4 g glutamine and glutamine precursors to speed up the muscle recovery process, and 100 mg digestive enzymes including Protease and Lactase that work to improve nutrient breakdown and absorption. GNC AMP Gold Series 100% whey protein advanced is ideal for – fitness enthusiasts, athletes, those who take part in extreme sports competitions, and those who do intense exercise in the gym 3-4 times a week. You can have it early in the morning to charge up your day, as a mid-meal healthy snack, or post-workout to reduce fatigue and muscle soreness.
- GNC AMP Pure Isolate
Whey protein isolate is considered to be the purest form of whey. It has the least fat and lactose content making it the best whey protein for lactose intolerant people. GNC AMP Pure Isolate is one of the best whey protein powder. It is an advanced formula that will help you accomplish all your fitness goals. Each serving provides 24 g muscle building protein to help gain lean muscle. It also has the goodness of 5 g of naturally occurring BCAAS, and 17 g muscle supporting amino acids to help speed up the muscle recovery process. GNC AMP Pure Isolate also comes packed with added 1 g of creatine which helps in improving strength, enhancing lean muscle mass and assists in quick muscle recovery.
It goes through a strict 20 step purification process to ensure you get the purest form of whey protein isolate. It contains no added sugar and has least fat and lactose content, making it ideal for people with lactose intolerance. Add 1 scoop (32 g) of this whey protein in 180-240 ml of chilled water, milk or your favorite beverage and shake for 15-30 seconds in a shaker.
- GNC Pro Performance Casein Protein
If you are looking for a premium quality casein protein supplement, then your search ends at GNC Pro Performance Casein Protein. It releases a consistent and steady supply of amino acids, including Glutamine and EAAs, to fuel muscle growth and rebuilding over a span of several hours. Each serving contains 25g of pure, premium protein that digests slowly to make constant amino-acid deliveries needed to sustain your body’s daily protein requirements. Since casein protein is slower to digest and stays in your stomach for longer, you feel more satiated which tends to control calorie intake, thus, helping in weight loss and weight management. It is available in a delicious chocolate supreme flavor.
Some of the other benefits are – it facilitates muscle protein synthesis in the body, provides amino acids which act as a fuel to keep up with overnight muscle recovery, has the goodness of digestive enzymes which make it easy to digest and easy on the stomach, and constantly supplies a high amount of Leucine and other important amino acids, which meter up the muscle protein synthesis to prevent breakdown. Mix one scoop in 300 – 350 ml water to make a delicious protein shake.
Before including any new whey protein powder in your routine make sure to consult your doctor and trainer. Go through the ingredient list carefully so that if you are allergic to a particular ingredient, you can ask your doctor for an alternate choice. Also read the dosage instructions carefully and do not consume more than the mentioned amount to avoid any side effects.
