The debate on whey protein vs soy protein lives on in the mind of those who want to use protein supplements.
Protein supplements are popular among bodybuilders, strength trainers, and other athletes. This is also useful for those who simply want to put their bodies in better shape and lose fat. Protein supplements like plant protein powder provide an efficient means of replenishing the body with much needed nutrients and facilitating faster muscle buildup.
There are two main options of choice: whey protein and soy protein.
A lot of talk is going on between the two, and there is no sign that arguments are going to end soon. To help users decide the better option, it is necessary to know the difference between the two.
The Basic Difference Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein
Soy protein is derived from the soybean plant, while whey protein is derived from dairy products.
Looking at the source provides much of the clues about the disadvantages and advantages of each option, as they share these with other products that come from animal and plant sources. It can ultimately help the user decide the better choice between whey protein vs soy protein.
Advantages and Limitations of Soy Protein | Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein
Soybean is the only vegetable known to have all the essential amino acids and this makes it a good alternative to meat products, considering that it is very low in cholesterol and fats.
The soy protein products available in the market are isolated after removing the hull and fat from the beans. They are then processed into the different commercial products we see today—-soy flour, concentrates and isolates.
Aside from being a good source of protein, they also have a rich content of minerals like iron, zinc and B vitamins. Compared to whey proteins, soy is a better source of glutamine and arginine. They offer the additional benefits of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and lower cholesterol levels. They are even believed to help fight or lower the risk of developing cancer.It is also cheaper than whey protein.
Soy protein, however, is subject to some doubts due to its phytoestrogen content, which is believed to eventually inhibit the development of muscle mass. Isoflavins are also found in this source, which may cause hormonal imbalance. Soy protein is also blamed for hyperthyroidism in extreme cases. Though some more recent studies yielded results to the contrary, the popularity of soy protein remains affected as users want to play it safe.
Three Product Types of Soy Proteins
- Soy Protein Isolates – On a dry basis, a soy protein isolate contains up to 90% of protein. This gives the most protein for every consumption and least unwanted impurities.
- Soy Protein Concentrates – In terms of refinement and purity, comes next to isolates, with 70% of its total weight coming from proteins. What it lacks in purity, it gains with the more attractive price.
- Soy Flours – This has a protein content of about 50%. It may contain some amount of fat but remains a good source of protein.
Advantages and Limitations of Whey Protein | Whey Protein Vs Soy Protein
Compared to soy, the overall balance of amino acids in whey protein is better.It also boasts of being more easily broken down and used by the body, allowing for a more rapid rate of muscle development. That being said, whey protein is considered a better option for replenishment of nutrients after a long, rigorous workout.
For many reasons, whey protein is more widely used by body builders. It is clearly winning the popularity contest of whey protein vs soy protein and that is why it comes at a more expensive price.
Three Types of Whey Protein
There are three main types of whey protein supplements available in the market: isolate, concentrate and blend.
- Whey Protein Isolate – This is the purest form of whey protein available, which also makes it the most expensive. However, there are a lot of athletes who prefer this form as it is zero in fat, carbohydrates and lactose. This makes it ideal for body building and shedding off the fat
- Whey Protein Concentrate – Although not as pure as the isolate form, whey protein concentrate remains an excellent source of protein. The additional carbohydrates actually does not matter, and may even help if someone is trying to gain weight aside from just building muscles. Compared to protein isolate, this is considerably easier on the wallet.
- Whey Protein Blends – This is somewhere in between the other two forms, and is the most widely used. Since not all whey protein blends are created equal, it is better to check the labels and ask for advice from reliable sources to get optimum results. This source of whey protein offers great value for money and provides a balanced profile of proteins at the same time.
In the battle between whey protein vs soy protein, whey protein is currently having an advantage and it remains to be seen if it can keep that lead for long.
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