Tag Archives: whey protein

  • OPTIMUM NUTRITION

     

    Quick Facts:

    • Considered one of the pioneers of what we now know as the supplement industry, Optimum Nutrition began in 1986. For more than 30 years, they have been providing elite quality fitness supplement products. Whether you need a premium whey protein or a way to boost your testosterone levels, Optimum Nutrition has you covered.
    • Optimum Nutrition offers a wide range of products available in powder, tablet, and ready-to-eat form. These product categories include Whey Protein, Casein Protein, Protein Bars, Mass Gainers, Pre-Workouts, Post-Workouts, Amino Acids, Creatine, Glutamine, Multi-Vitamins, Fat Burners, and Fitness Accessories.

    Top Products:

    1. Gold Standard 100% Whey
    • This combination of whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, and whey peptides has become the shining example of what real, high quality protein should be across the industry.
    1. Gold Standard Pre-Workout
    • Featuring a unique high-energy blend of ginseng, caffeine, and l-citrulline malate, this product sets the bar high for other pre-workouts.
    1. Serious Mass
    • When you want to gain size and strength, nothing comes close to the power of Serious Mass. This product is one of the best mass gainers for those in need of size in the entire industry.
    1. Micronized Creatine Powder
    • The use of creatine for athletic performance and fitness results has become commonplace thanks to O.N. This pure, pharmaceutical grade creatine helps support recovery and gains.
    1. Opti-Men
    • Not all multi-vitamins are created equal. Opti-Men was specifically formulated and designed to help a man achieve optimal health.

    Who Uses Optimum Nutrition?

    • Optimum Nutrition is a brand that is accessible and available to all types of fitness enthusiasts. Whether you only see the gym once in a while or you practically live there, Optimum Nutrition has a product for you. In particular, Optimum Nutrition is very popular with those looking to build muscle, burn fat, boost recovery, and improve strength levels. It has a unique line of supplements that apply to every type of fitness goal.
    • Bodybuilders
    • Weight lifters
    • Athletes
    • Power lifters
    • Wanting to lose weight
    • Looking to improve overall health

    Fitness Goals & Which Supplement to Use?

    1. Muscle Building

    When you want to increase lean muscle mass or if you simply want to maintain your current levels, two of the best products in the entire industry come from Optimum Nutrition. Using an elite quality whey will provide you with muscle building amino acids. Using a creatine product before and after your workout will help supply energy to muscle tissue.

    • Gold Standard 100% Whey
    • Micronized Creatine Powder
    1. Fat Loss

    Nutrition and exercise are key when you want to burn fat; however, everyone can benefit from extra help. Thermogenic supplements help to promote weight loss by triggering a metabolic response and directly supporting fat burning. O.N. has one of the most user-friendly thermogenic fat burners in the industry.

    • Platinum Pre-
    1. Energy

    We all know the feeling of coming home from a long day and STILL needing to get to the gym on top of everything else. When you're in need of a serious pick-me-up that won't leave you with a crash, O.N. has you covered. O.N. produces an industry-shattering pre-workout that contains scientifically proven ingredients. Best of all, there's no crash! Get your energy with O.N.

    • Gold Standard Pre-Workout
  • Cellucor COR Performance Whey vs. Muscle Pharm Combat Powder

    Nothing says muscle building quite like a tough workout and the follow-up protein shake. Protein has become synonymous with the gym and muscle building and with good reason: the amino acids within protein are the very building blocks of muscle tissue. Let's review two of the biggest names in protein, Cellucor COR Performance Whey and Muscle Pharm Combat Powder, to see which one can help you achieve your fitness goals.

     

    Cellucor COR Performance Whey

    Where can I buy it?

    • Here's where you can buy Cellucor COR Performance Whey.

     

    Pros of Cellucor COR Performance Whey

    The great thing about Cellucor COR Performance Whey is that it is a straight forward protein supplement. It contains 25 grams of a unique blend of isolate and concentrate, allowing for an immediate and extended release of amino acids. It doesn't have an unnecessary vitamin blend like you'll find in most other protein supplements but it does have helpful digestive enzymes. This will be a big help for those who have digestive issues with whey.

     

    When used as a part of a healthy diet and training program, Cellucor COR Performance Whey may be able to boost protein synthesis, support muscle building, and provide a convenient meal replacement solution.

     

    Cons of Cellucor COR Performance Whey

    The only thing that there is to complain about would be the use of artificial sweeteners in the whey protein blend. The thing is, these artificial sweeteners are commonly used and you'd be hard pressed to not find them in supplements. The only concern would be if you have a digestive issue with these particular sweeteners: Acesulfame Potassium (Ace-K) and Sucralose. So long as you aren't chasing after a completely natural lifestyle or have a digestive problem, these sweeteners shouldn't be an issue.

     

    Muscle Pharm Combat Powder

    Where can I buy it?

    • Here's where you can buy Muscle Pharm Combat Powder.

     

    Pros of Muscle Pharm Combat Powder

    Just like with Cellucor COR Performance, Muscle Pharm Combat Powder gives you a high-quality protein that is free of unnecessary additives like synthetic vitamins and minerals. In fact, it's an eerily similar formula to the Cellucor brand with concentrate and isolate at 25 grams per serving. Again, just like its rival, Combat Powder is best used as a part of a well-planned training program as it may be able to support muscle building and fat loss. (1-6)

     

    Cons of Muscle Pharm Combat Powder

    Also, just like its rival, Combat Powder contains artificial sweeteners, which would be the only negative thing that we can spot in this bare essential formula.

     

    Which One Should You Buy?

    These two protein giants are the top brands for a reason: they are elite quality products with a huge fan following. Supplying you with equal amounts of isolate and concentrate whey protein, this supplement battle ends with a draw. We'd recommend buying both and seeing which one you favor. You could also just wait for each one to go on sale. Either way, they will both help you reach your fitness goals.

     

    References

    1. Tsutsumi R, Tsutsumi YM. Peptides and proteins in whey and their benefits for human health. Austin J Nutri Food Sci 2014;1(1): 1002
    1. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.
    1. Norton, Layne, Layman, Donald. Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise. J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136 no. 2 533S-537S.
    1. Negro M, Giardina S, Marzani B, Marzatico F. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Sep;48(3):347-51.
    1. Mourier A, Bigard AX, de Kerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Jan;18(1):47-55.
    1. De Lorenzo A, Petroni ML, Masala S, Melchiorri G, Pietrantuono M, Perriello G, Andreoli A. Effect of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids on energy metabolism and muscle performance. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2003 Oct-Dec;16(5-6):291-7.
  • Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey vs Dymatize ISO 100

    When muscle building is your primary goal, it goes without saying that protein plays a critical factor in your results. Protein contains the very building blocks of lean muscle tissue. That means you need a supplement that works fast and effectively for you to maximize your results. We're pitting the two industry giants against one another again in this protein showdown: Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey vs Dymatize ISO 100. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both brands to see which is worth picking up for your collection.

     

    Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey

     

    Where can I buy it?

    • Here is where you can buy Optimum Nutrition Hydrowhey

     

    Pros:

    • 30 grams of hydrolysed protein per serving
    • Highly bioavailable protein
    • Provides almost 9 grams BCAAs
    • Contains digestive enzymes for better absorption

     

    Cons:

    • Possible nitrogen spiking
    • Artificial flavouring
    • Artificial sweeteners

     

    Optimum Nutrition is no stranger to the protein supplement scene. It offers a variety of different proteins, all of which are best sellers. It's no different with its Hydrowhey. Hydrolysed whey is a very unique type of protein as it pre-broken down. That means it will get into your muscle tissue faster than ordinary whey concentrate. That's great news for your muscles post-workout.

     

    The only downside to Hydrowhey is the possibility of nitrogen spiking. This is where amino acids are added to the formula to cause a higher protein count. While it's not that big of a deal, this means the real protein count may be lower and closer to 25 grams as opposed to 30.

     

    Dymatize ISO 100

     

    Where can I buy it?

    • Here is where you can buy Dymatize ISO 100

     

    Pros:

    • Hydrolysed and isolate protein
    • 25 grams of protein per serving
    • Minimal ingredients, which means less junk that you don't need
    • Rapid digestion of protein into muscle tissue
    • No fat and low cholesterol

     

    Cons:

    • Artificial flavouring
    • Artificial sweeteners

     

    When you want a superior post-workout protein, few supplements will come close to Dymatize ISO 100. This is one of the most straight forward protein isolate supplements on the market. You're getting hydrolysed protein along with a protein isolate. Both of which are extremely bioavailable. There's artificial flavouring and sweeteners and that's it. At 25 grams of protein per serving, you can rest assured that your muscles are going to love ISO 100.

     

    Which One Should You Buy?

     

    Both of these protein supplements have been designed to give your muscles the amino acids they need. Amino acids are going to help boost recovery, promote growth, and even support fat burning. So which one of these brands does it better?

     

    If you look at the labels, you're going to see that it's an even draw. Both are incredible brands. Both have high quality protein sources. Both are going to be an amazing addition to any post-workout supplement line-up.

     

    If we had to choose then we'd go with Dymatize ISO 100. The fact that Hydrowhey may be adding in additional amino acids to help boost its protein count almost feels like a violation of trust (although it's quite common in the industry). ISO 100 is giving you 25 grams of completely usable protein with no tricks or gimmicks. Again, both are great so if the deciding factor for you is price then go with the one on sale. You can't go wrong either way.

     

    References

     

    1. Tsutsumi R, Tsutsumi YM. Peptides and proteins in whey and their benefits for human health. Austin J Nutri Food Sci 2014;1(1): 1002

     

    1. Blomstrand E, Eliasson J, Karlsson HK, Köhnke R. Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise. J Nutr. 2006 Jan;136(1 Suppl):269S-73S.

     

    1. Norton, Layne, Layman, Donald. Leucine Regulates Translation Initiation of Protein Synthesis in Skeletal Muscle after Exercise. J. Nutr. February 2006 vol. 136 no. 2 533S-537S.

     

    1. Negro M, Giardina S, Marzani B, Marzatico F. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2008 Sep;48(3):347-51.

     

    1. Mourier A, Bigard AX, de Kerviler E, Roger B, Legrand H, Guezennec CY. Combined effects of caloric restriction and branched-chain amino acid supplementation on body composition and exercise performance in elite wrestlers. Int J Sports Med. 1997 Jan;18(1):47-55.

     

    1. De Lorenzo A, Petroni ML, Masala S, Melchiorri G, Pietrantuono M, Perriello G, Andreoli A. Effect of acute and chronic branched-chain amino acids on energy metabolism and muscle performance. Diabetes Nutr Metab. 2003 Oct-Dec;16(5-6):291-7.
  • Is Whey Protein Superior to Egg Protein?

    If you're like most people, whenever you head to the supplement store, you eventually find yourself in the protein isle. For most, the choice has always been the same: you go right for the whey protein. For those looking to try something new or for those who have done their homework, the choice is egg protein. Price aside, in the supplement world, is whey protein better than egg protein?

     

    Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both to see which protein may be better for your personal fitness goals.

     

    Highlights of Whey Protein

     

    Whey protein is derived from cow's milk and it is the most popular protein choice in the supplement industry. It is highly bioavailable receiving the highest score on the bioavailability chart. It has numerous studies proving its benefits as a fitness tool to achieve goals in muscle building, fat loss, recovery, and performance enhancement. It has even been shown to be effective in boosting your immune response. Whey protein can be purchased as a concentrate or an isolate. One is not necessarily better than the other. Rather, they each play a role in supplementation timing.

     

    Potential Issues of Whey Protein

     

    The most common issue with whey protein has to do with allergies. Those who are lactose intolerant may not be able to handle the consumption of whey protein. Considering most of the population is lactose intolerant, this may be why so many manufacturers are placing digestive enzymes into their whey protein products.

     

    The other issue, which is not necessarily with the product but with the company procedures, is nitrogen, or amino, spiking. This is where a manufacturer puts amino acids into the protein supplement in order to score a higher nitrogen score, thereby giving the impression that the product has a higher total protein score.

     

    Highlights of Egg Protein

     

    The majority of egg protein supplements are made of egg whites as this is where the bulk of protein can be found. Just like whey protein, egg protein is extremely bioavailable, also scoring high on the bioavailability chart. Also, just like its dairy counterpart, egg protein has been shown to provide the critical nutrients you need to support goals of muscle building, fat loss, and recovery.

     

    Potential Issues of Whey Protein

     

    The biggest issue you may hear around the forum chat rooms is that consistent consumption of egg protein powder can lead to a Biotin deficiency. Avidin, a compound found in eggs, can attach itself to Biotin, thereby deactivating it, if the eggs you eat haven't been cooked. The chances of this happening are very unlikely. IF you are an avid egg eater and egg protein powder user AND you're worried about your normal diet not meeting your Biotin needs, simply take the supplement form of it. You can buy Biotin here.

     

    Also, those with an allergy to egg, which is not as common as a milk allergy but still prevalent, may have trouble using egg protein powder.

     

    Whey Protein or Egg Protein?

     

    Both are amazing so which one should you choose?

     

    If you can afford it, you should be using both. Having a variety of protein sources will only benefit you as your body is getting nutrients from two different sources. If you need to choose just one, it'll be up to two deciding factors: allergies and price.

     

    If you're allergic to one, go with the other. In terms of price, egg protein powder has always been more expensive than whey protein concentrate. If you're on a budget, go with whey protein. If you can afford to splurge, go with egg protein.

     

     

    REFERENCES

     

    1. Jay R. Hoffman and Michael J. Falvo. Protein – Which is Best? J Sports Sci Med. 2004 Sep; 3(3): 118–130. Published online 2004 Sep 1. PMCID: PMC3905294

     

    1. Tsutsumi R, Tsutsumi YM. Peptides and proteins in whey and their benefits for human health. Austin J Nutri Food Sci 2014;1(1): 1002.
  • Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey vs Dymatize ISO 100

    In the protein supplement market, you have literally hundreds of options to choose from, which can understandably make you feel frustrated and confused. Two of the biggest names in the industry have been battling it out for years. Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey and Dymatize's ISO 100 are some of the best-selling proteins that you'll find but which one is better? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each to determine which one you should be buying.

     

    Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey

     

    Where can I buy it?

    • Buy it here

     

    Pros:

    • Micro-filtered quality (Very important)
    • Highly bioavailable (No wasted protein)
    • Blend of different protein types
    • Naturally provides glutamine and BCAAs
    • Veteran of the industry

     

    Cons:

    • Artificial flavoring
    • Artificial sweeteners
    • Cholesterol amount (depending on your dietary needs)

     

    Optimum Nutrition has been around for years, providing you with a variety of fitness supplements and its most famous is Gold Standard Whey. This protein supplement features three protein types, giving you the advantage of amino acids for hours. Amino acids are the building blocks of muscle and they also support weight loss. Gold Standard is the ideal protein to start your day, fuel up before a workout, and to ensure your muscle gains before bed.

     

    Dymatize ISO 100

     

    Where can I buy it?

    • Buy it here

     

    Pros:

    • Uses cross-flow micro filtration
    • Utilizes pre-hydrolyzed protein sources (this will ensure rapid digestion AND assimilation into the muscle tissue)
    • Supplies BCAAs naturally with every serving
    • No fat and low cholesterol
    • Favorite amount bodybuilding crowd

     

    Cons:

    • Price (However, consider the fact that Protein Isolate will always be more expensive than Protein Concentrate)
    • Soy lecithin
    • Use of artificial sweeteners and flavoring

     

    Dymatize ISO 100 quickly gained attention as THE isolate to go with when your goals include muscle and strength. Dymatize uses a unique filtration method to remove carbohydrates, fats, and unwanted elements from its product. What's more, the protein is pre-hydrolyzed. This means the protein is pre-broken down, allowing for unbelievably fast absorption and utilization by your muscle tissue. Without a doubt, it is the protein to be reaching for after an intense workout as your muscles will be demanding those amino acids and they don't want to wait.

     

    Which One Should You Buy?

     

    The short answer is both.

     

    It shouldn't be looked at as which one is 'better.' You should be asking, 'How can I use both to maximize my goals?'

     

    Each of these proteins can play an important role in your fitness journey. While Gold Standard Whey from ON makes for an ideal breakfast, pre-workout, or pre-bed protein choice, Dymatize ISO 100 is the only option post-workout. Gold Standard features a variety of protein types, which means different digestion speeds and a longer time release of amino acids. ISO 100 is for when your muscles need protein right away with no delay. Arm yourself with both and you'll reach those muscle building and fat loss goals before you know it.

1 2 3 4
GIVE $10 GET $10More info