When you walk into a grocery shop in 2019, you’ll notice a lot more recognizable foods than you did in 2009. Antibiotic-free meat, organic milk, gluten-free bread, vegan sausages, non-GMO vegetables… All of them go against the grain, claiming to be a healthier alternative for our bodies.
This tendency has also moved to sports nutrition and nutritional supplements. Plant-derived nutrients are becoming more popular, whereas animal-derived supplements are often taken from organic source materials (e.g. milk is given by grass-fed cows required to produce a grass-fed whey protein powder).
But what are the advantages of a “grass-fed” label? Is it only a marketing ploy or a genuine claim to superiority? Let’s look into this together and identify the health, muscle-building, and weight-loss advantages of grass-fed whey protein.
What Is Grass-Fed Whey Protein?
Protein supplements for muscle development come in a variety of forms. Whey protein and casein protein, both obtained from cow milk, are the most prevalent. Whey is a liquid component of milk that, together with casein, may be removed from milk during the cheese-making process.
Whey, on the other hand, absorbs far more quickly than casein and jumpstarts protein synthesis in your muscles. As a result, it’s your finest ally in accomplishing your fitness objectives as quickly as possible.
Grass-fed whey protein powder is made differently from regular whey protein powder. Whey protein is frequently derived from cows grown in unfavorable circumstances, where they are fed GMO crops and given antibiotics.
Grass-fed cows, on the other hand, are kept in a natural setting and fed a plant-based diet, resulting in milk with a more nutritious profile. Protein from grass-fed milk will have a better biological value as well. But, don’t you think there’s much of a difference?
Continue reading to learn 12 reasons why you should switch from ordinary whey to grass-fed protein powder.
1. You Lose Weight Faster While Drinking Grass-Fed Whey Protein
Regular whey protein can help you lose weight and grow muscle at the same time since it suppresses your appetite and speeds up your metabolism.
However, due to its increased level of conjugated linoleic acid, grass-fed whey protein makes you even thinner (CLA). Organic milk provides 18% more CLA than non-organic dairy, according to a research published in PLOS One magazine.
According to WebMD, taking a CLA tablet alone can help you reduce up to 9% of body fat in a year without changing your diet or lifestyle.
However, there is no muscular development. That’s why, rather than merely taking CLA, it’s advisable to supplement your dieting with grass-fed whey protein.
2. Grass-Fed Whey Boosts Your Immunity
Because grass-fed milk has greater quantities of beta-lactoglobulin, lactoferrin, and lysozyme, you have a better chance of improving your immunity.
Beta-lactoglobulin is the most important component of whey (it makes up more than half of its composition), and it possesses anti-inflammatory, blood pressure-lowering, and cholesterol-lowering properties.
Lactoferrin boosts your immune system’s ability to combat germs and viruses, whereas lysozyme is a natural killer.
In the long term, improved immunity equals higher fitness outcomes. Imagine not getting sick as often and having more time to workout instead of spending a couple of weeks in bed every year.
3. Organic Whey Protein Possibly Speeds Up Your Recovery
Antioxidants like beta-lactoglobulin and vitamins A and E are abundant in grass-fed milk. This research shows that meat from grass-fed cattle has a sevenfold and twofold boost in A and E vitamins, respectively. Antioxidants are also more abundant in protein derived from these cows.
Antioxidants in high quantities were said to help with muscular stiffness after exercise. Recent studies, on the other hand, found no link between antioxidant supplementation and subjective post-workout sensations. Other research suggests that antioxidants are beneficial in the long run, helping your body cope with oxidative stress.
So, what’s the verdict? In terms of fitness, certain antioxidant supplements are a complete waste of money. Grass-fed whey protein, on the other hand, will only aid to delicately balance your diet.
4. It Has Anti-Cancer Effect
Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Even if it is treatable in its early stages, prevention is always preferable than treatment.
The anti-cancer activities of beta-lactoglobulin and lysozyme are well-known. And, as you may know, grass-fed milk has a higher concentration of these than regular dairy products.
This isn’t the most important advantage of organic whey protein powder, but it’s another small point in its favor in the “grass-fed vs. conventional protein” debate.
5. Whey Concentrate Contains More Healthy Fats
According to the same study published in PLOS One, grass-fed whey protein concentrate had a 10-25 percent reduced omega-6 fatty acid content and a 20-60 percent greater omega-3 fatty acid content.
In the appropriate amounts, omega-6 fatty acids are beneficial to human health, but too much of them in your diet raises your risk of heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, keep your heart healthy, help you lose weight, and are essential for cognitive function.
Omega-3 fatty acid “overdose” is nearly impossible: most Americans are deficient in this vitamin. The ideal ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids is 4:1 or less, however the average American diet has a ratio of between 10:1 and 50:1.
When you eat organic whey protein concentrate, you match your diet’s fatty acid ratio with ideal values.
6. Increases The Bioavailability Of Nutrients
You should pick concentrate over isolate if you want to get the most out of consuming grass-fed whey protein.
Let’s have a look at how they vary. Whey protein isolate has more protein and less fat, carbohydrates, and other “unwanted” ingredients than concentrate.
Pure Label Nutrition Origin Whey Protein Isolate, for example, has 85 percent more protein than Grass-Fed Whey Protein Concentrate, which has just 80 percent.
Protein isolate, on the other hand, is denaturated to separate protein from extraneous substances. As a result, it is extremely concentrated while being low in the important components described before.
Grass-fed whey concentrate is the way to go if you want to increase your body’s health while also increasing muscle mass. It’s already low in carbohydrates and fat, albeit it’s not totally free of them.
If you only want to focus on muscle gain, grain-fed isolate is the way to go, foregoing some of the benefits of grass-fed protein.
7. Grass-Fed Whey Protein Is Gmo & Antibiotics-Free
Because grass-fed protein is synonymous with organic protein, it is free of genetically modified organisms, pesticides, and antibiotics.
The following facts are the source of the problem. Genetically engineered insecticide-treated wheat are fed to cows by conventional farmers. While whey protein is derived from non-organic milk, pesticides in their diet are transferred to it. Because such chemicals are designed to destroy plants and insects, the effects of pesticides on the human body are evident if swallowed.
Antibiotics, hormones, and other drugs used to boost milk and meat yields are in the same boat. If a brand of grass-fed whey protein does not comply with the chemical restrictions, it cannot be branded as organic.
This manner, you may avoid ingesting dangerous toxins by opting for environmentally safe proteins!
8. Organic Protein Supplements Come Without Artificial Sweeteners And Preservatives
Another danger to your health is the profusion of artificial sweeteners and preservatives included in certain brands’ ordinary whey protein supplements. They negate the benefits of protein and transform it into a standard “milkshake cocktail,” complete with all the “side effects” of tooth decay and weight gain (especially unwanted when you strive to lose it).
There are no artificial chemicals in grass-fed whey protein powder. Grass-fed flavored versions do exist, and they’re made with natural tastes. Pure Label Nutrition, for example, offers natural chocolate and vanilla-flavored proteins.
9. You Support Eco-Friendly Farming By Choosing Grass-Fed Whey
Did you realize that cattle graze on 80 percent of agricultural land? In the United States, cattle consumes more than half of all grains produced. The most shocking number is that agriculture is responsible for 13% of all greenhouse gas emissions. Last but not least, cows on these farms are frequently handled in inhumane manners that we would want to avoid in the twenty-first century.
Even if there isn’t a direct advantage to your health, organic farming is going toward the least invasive agricultural production and livestock operations, implying a lower environmental effect. And the better our living environment is, the healthier we become.
10. For Some People, It Just Tastes Better!
Although this is a personal preference, some of our clients prefer grass-fed whey protein powder due to its flavor. They claim that it “supposedly tastes like a cleaner, more natural product.”
You’ll never know for sure unless you do it yourself, believe it or not. That’s the final reason to try grass-fed whey, but we’re guessing the other nine have already persuaded you.
11. Whey Protein Powders Have The Right Quantity Of Protein For You
Shapiro suggests opting for a protein powder with 15 to 20 grams of pure protein if you’re taking it as a meal replacement. Experts recommend taking between 20 and 30 grams of protein in a post-workout recovery smoothie for maximum muscle healing and strengthening.
12. It Has The Potential To Improve Your Immune System
“The amino acid cysteine, which is a precursor to glutathione, is another suggested advantage of whey protein,” explains Fine. “Studies have shown that glutathione may aid in the maintenance of a healthy immune system.” When compared to other animal and plant-based proteins, whey protein has the greatest quantities of cysteine.