100 Whey Protein

100 Whey protein is the workhorse of protein powders. There are dozens of products available, and all of the them basically deliver about 20 grams of whey protein per scoop derived primarily from whey protein concentrate. These are not typically high-tech or designer supplements, but contain enough protein to do the job. They are generally the most cost-effective source of whey protein.

100 Whey Protein stands for 100 percent whey protein, but this is in fact not the case. There are other ingredients in the mix besides protein, such as flavoring, thickener, filler, sweetener and salt. What 100 Whey really means is that only whey protein is involved and no other types of protein are in the mix, including egg or soy.

The cheapest 100 whey formulations contain whey protein concentrate. Others mix whey protein concentrate with whey protein isolate and whey protein pieces (peptides). This raises the cost-per-scoop, but it still costs less than pure whey protein isolate.

The building blocks of any protein are amino acids. There are three basic types of amino acids in terms of the human body's needs: (1) required intake (essential amino acids); (2) optional intake (conditional amino acids); and (3) self-made (nonessential amino acids). 100 Whey typically provides all of the essential amino acids, most of the conditional amino acids and some of the nonessential amino acids.

Glutamine is an amino acid of particular importance, and its inclusion is often emphasized in labeling. It's a conditional amino acid, and it serves as fuel for the immune system. Glutamine is a precursor for glutathione, the potent antioxidant that helps the body fight infection and free radical damage. Exercise, disease, poor diet and medical treatment can diminish glutamine supply, deplete glutathione stores and reduce immunity.