By Russ Howe
If you've ever asked somebody how to build muscle you'll notice that using sports supplements is one of the first things they suggest. The gym is becoming an increasingly scientific place to be. So if you're just starting out, how are you supposed to figure out which whey protein is best for you and your goals?
With every store in your local high street suddenly stocking a range of products and telling you that they're all essential to you reaching your goals, it can become very confusing indeed for those who aren't sure what they need to look for.
One of the main reasons the supplement industry is such a confusing place is that it's a billion dollar business. One of the main income sources for supplement companies is confused customers who aren't sure what they're looking for. This is why packaging often focuses on hype and promises of quick, easy results rather than giving actual facts about the nutrition contained within the product itself.
Despite the fact that it may appear overly scientific at first, the basics behind the nutritional information on a protein product are quite simple. Much like the foundations of building a more muscular body in the gym, nothing much has changed over the last couple of decades when you get down to the fine details of it all.
Everybody's different. We all have different body types and goals, so when every product claims to be the best thing ever to hit the market you should take that claim with a pinch of salt to say the least. The three points below will teach you what to look for.
* Is the first ingredient hydrolized, isolate or concentrated whey?
* What is the protein content of each shake?
* As well as the protein content, take a look at the carbohydrate count.
Lets run through the three key points given above and show you why they are so important to finding the right product for your body type and goals. First of all, what is the first ingredient listed on the tub?
The main difference between the three different forms of whey is the speed in which they are digested by your muscles. After a workout, you want to hit your muscles fast and hard with quality nutrition. A hydrolized product is ideal here, but you can also opt for an isolate or even concentrate, which is the original blend. The huge differences in price don't reflect the quite small differences in the speed of digestion, so don't worry if you're on a budget.
How much protein is provided by each shake? Science tells us that our body can only handle between 20 and 30 grams in any one sitting, so all of those products which boast about hitting you with 40-50 grams tend to lead to unwanted fat gain.
Last but not least, let's take a peek at the carbohydrate content. There are two types of supplements in this field. Those which are designed for people looking to build and those designed for people trying to get leaner. If your goal is adding size you want a product which provides you with a good portion of carbohydrates in every shake. If you're trying to get leaner the carbohydrate content should be relatively low.
Now that you have taken the time to understand the three main rules behind muscle building supplements, you'll be able to assess which whey protein is best for you to use and get around the hype surrounding most products on the market.
