As I stepped into the gym for the first time, it wasn’t even my first set of dumbbells that my gym trainer came to me selling, it was a box of powder which I had no idea about. He told me that it was a must to build a body and the unlike a hippy you have to snort this powder to build muscles, it’s called Whey Protein. So that night I went home and asked dad for 5k (which is a lot for a box of powder in a middle-class upbringing) to which he was quite sceptical and asked me to do my research before I put anything in my body (which again addresses a highly infamous topic in the fitness circle of anabolic steroids, but that’s for another day. Let’s stick to Whey for now).
Four hours of google searching then, four years into training and ‘n’ boxes of whey later.
What is Whey?
Whey protein is a mixture of proteins isolated from Whey, which is the liquid part of milk that separates during cheese production. Milk is made up of two kinds of proteins, 80% casein and 20% whey.
To put things into perspective, when mom puts curd in the fridge overnight, and sometimes you see a layer of water on top, that is Whey. When we curdle for cheese or even make homemade paneer, the water which it leaves then undergoes several advanced separation techniques to be packed and sent as a powdered form to your doorstep.
Do we really need it?
Do you need to buy that box of Whey? No.
Do you need Protein? Yes.
Proteins are the building blocks of your body. Not only restricted to muscle growth and strength, but your body also needs protein for everything from hairs to cell regeneration.
Whey protein is always advised as a supplement. A supplement is used to aid a process and not replace it entirely. People generally fall for the trap that they won’t grow without the use of supplements. If you can hit your protein goals with dairy, poultry, legumes; more power to you. Don’t spend that 5k on a box of protein when you can lavishly spend on extra cheese during cheat meals. But for the ones who have a hard time hitting those macros due to various constraints, Whey protein as a supplement makes it easier to hit these numbers. Hostellers can relate.
My take and hacks:
Whey absorbs much quicker than the usual source of protein. So, if you are using it for recovery post-workout, avoid adding milk, you are just nullifying its whole purpose.
If you are using it just to complete your macros, then don’t just mix it in a shaker and gulp. Be innovative. Add it to your smoothies, cake batters, pancakes etc. Unlike men, proteins don’t discriminate.
Buying
Whey can be heavy on your budget, especially hostellers and students. Here’s what worked best for me. An average flavoured whey ranges anywhere around 5-7k on average for a 2.2-2.5kg. These are ideal for post-workout shakes as the flavour is bearable. But to cut on my budget I started ordering unflavoured or raw Whey. These are relatively cheaper and cost anywhere around 3k for the same weight, which is practically half the cost.
To make it delicious, I add it to my breakfast recipe, oatmeal, or just add it with Boost and cold milk. This hack has been one of my most valuable price-saver of all time.
So, if you are starting your fitness journey, know that it can be a great supplement to hit your goals of protein requirement. Also, since it’s a derivative of dairy, lactose-intolerant people are recommended to opt for Whey isolate which purely isolates whey in a much pure form.
If you have a pre-condition with your kidney, that’s the only point where you are advised to consult your physician, but, for a healthy individual, Whey causing strain on kidneys is a myth. Drink more water, Karen!
Stay healthy.
Stay Safe.
Comments