Grass Fed Non-Denatured Whey Protein Benefits

Getting enough protein in your diet is a challenge most athletes and bodybuilders face. You often need to take protein powder in addition to your meals, to meet your increased protein needs and support your muscles. Protein powders are one of the best ways to get the right type of protein for your diet.

Although you know protein powder is a must, what kind should you choose? There are so many available!  If you’re looking for a good protein powder, it’s worth considering a special type of whey protein powder called “non-denatured grass-fed whey protein concentrate “. Read on to find out everything you need to know and why we consider this the best-undenatured whey protein.

What is Whey Protein?

Whey is the liquid that is separated from the curds or the solid part of the milk during the dairy production process. Once upon a time, this liquid was discarded by cheese and butter makers, treating it as a waste product without realizing the awesome, nutrient-rich food that it is.

In the 1970s, it was discovered that whey protein was able to increase glutathione levels, and suddenly whey became a prized health food. This is when whey was turned into protein powder. Almost overnight, it became a hugely popular product!

Casein protein–also derived from milk–is slightly different from whey protein. Casein protein is digested much more slowly, while whey protein digests very quickly. This makes it particularly useful for athletes and bodybuilders, the quick digestion means it can enter the muscles right after a workout to start repairing and rebuilding muscle tissue.

Whey is also a rich source of branched-chain amino acids,- leucine, isoleucine, and valine. These three amino acids are critical for reducing fatigue, speeding up recovery and building stronger muscles after a tough workout.

Whey protein is an incredible source of delicate immune-boosting proteins called bioactive peptides. A 2013 study found that these peptides were able to significantly reduce the duration and severity of the common cold, through their ability to support optimal immune function.

Finally, whey is also loaded with an amino acid called cysteine, which the body uses to make the powerful antioxidant glutathione. Whey protein is essentially the best source of the nutrients needed to produce glutathione.

Denatured Protein Powder vs. Grass-Fed Non-Denatured Whey Protein: What’s the Difference?

The word “denatured” describes a biochemical process in which proteins lose their structure, often thanks to heat or other external stressors. When it is used to describe “denatured protein powder“, it means that the structure of the amino acids has been broken down by:

• The exposure of the whey protein to acids
• Oxidation of the amino acids
• High heat used during the pasteurization process
• Agitating or spinning during the filtration and packaging processes

Basically, all these things lead to a breakdown of the vital immune-boosting proteins that make whey so beneficial. The amino acids are still present, but you simply don’t get the same benefit from denatured protein powder as you would grass-fed non-denatured whey protein.

The whey protein is still highly nutritious; it is just a great source of protein with no effects on your immune system.

Non-denatured grass-fed whey protein concentrate, on the other hand, has NOT been overly processed with repeat heating or destroyed during the manufacturing process. The best-undenatured whey proteins are made with minimal processing, single-heating pasteurization, and then ambient temperature drying that avoids any added steps like microfiltration, hydrolyzation, or acid-separation. This reduces the milk’s exposure to high heat or acidity and the result is the best undenatured whey protein possible.

Benefits of Non-denatured Whey Protein Powder

With non-denatured grass-fed whey protein concentrate, you get all of the benefits you get from regular whey protein:

• Enhanced muscle-building thanks to the easy-to-digest amino acids.
• All nine essential amino acids needed to produce new muscle fibers.
• Increases in muscular strength and size.
• Boost in overall energy and health levels.
• Increases satiety, resulting in overall lower calorie intake.
• Supports healthy metabolism to help with weight management.

However, in addition to these benefits, grass-feed non-denatured whey protein contains all the high levels of cysteine and immune-supporting bioactive peptides in a form that your body can use. The cellular structures of the amino acids have been kept intact during the production and packaging processes, so you still get the glutathione-producing cysteine and the bioactive peptides that your body needs to boost your immune system.

While regular whey protein just focuses on muscle-building, our non-denatured grass-fed whey protein concentrate provides the nutrients needed by your immune system to fight off disease and infections.

How to Use the Best Undenatured Whey Protein Concentrate

Using grass-fed non-denatured whey protein powder is actually surprisingly easy! Most of us will just drop a scoop or two into a glass of milk or water, stir it with a spoon, and enjoy! Many whey powders are made with delicious vanilla or chocolate that can be made into a delicious protein shake without much effort.

But there is no reason to just stick with a boring protein shake made with plain water or milk. You can definitely get creative with your protein powder. One thing to note, if you are using non-denatured protein powder do not heat it, as the heat will affect the chemical structure of the amino acids. Also, avoid mixing the protein powder with fruits that are highly acidic, as the acids will also affect the structure of the amino acids!

Below, we’ve got some awesome recipes to help you make your own tasty protein powder shakes:

Chocolate Shake with Flaxseed

This delicious drink is the healthy chocolate shake in a glass, and you’ll love the combination of the vanilla extract, natural peanut butter, and cocoa flavored protein powder.

See the recipe here: Chocolate Shake Recipe With Flaxseed

Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Instead of making shakes, why not make these little balls to have handy any time you want a snack? These can be made ahead of time, so you have a healthy treat to reach for any time.

They’re darn tasty and very easy to whip up in minutes!

See the recipe here: Peanut Butter Protein Ball Recipe

Pumpkin Protein Bars

Love pumpkin? These bars harness the taste of fall without all the sugar and fat of many other pumpkin recipes.

See the recipe here: Pumpkin Protein Bars 

Triple Berry Protein Shake

Talk about tart goodness!

Mixing antioxidant-rich blueberries and raspberries with Vitamin C-rich strawberries gives your immune system a boost. Adding whey powder just makes it tastier!

See the recipe here: Triple Berry Shake Recipe That Kids Really Love

Chocolate Espresso Whey Ice Cream

Love ice cream, but don’t love all the fat and calories it contains. What about a protein-rich dessert that you can actually include in your diet?

Yes please!

See the recipe here: Chocolate Espresso Ice Cream Recipe

Want more recipes? Check out our collection of whey protein recipes here.

Any type of whey protein is amazing for muscle strength. But if you want to get the most health benefit from taking whey, you want to choose a grass-fed non denatured whey protein powder. This will give you all nine of the essential amino acids found in whey while providing the bioactive peptides and amino acids to support glutathione production and your immune system. Non-denatured grass-fed whey protein concentrate is the best way to harness the health benefits of whey.