Questions Ive been needing answers to
I work out 7 days a week and I need to know. So I posted this for our other young athletes.
The debate rages on and on in online chat rooms, in gyms and in health food stores - which is better? Soy Protein or Whey Protein. Well, the truth is, they're each good in their own way. Of course, we all know that athletes and others who are working out more, simply need more protein. Below, we'll list the advantages of each type and let you make up your own mind about which works for what you need it for.
Soy Protein (Try Top of the World Pro Formula Soy Protein Powder)
The FDA has approved the following statement: Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 25 grams of soy protein a day may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Soy protein has been found to be higher in non-essential amino acids than most animal-derived proteins, and it may also promote weight loss, according to a study in Medical Hypotheses
A study investigating isolated soy protein indicated that athletes using soy protein fared better in performance. In the study, which appeared in the Revue Roumaine de Physiologie (29, 3-4:63-70, 1992), researchers from the Sports Medicine Institute in Romania reported that in 66 Olympic endurance athletes, soy protein increased lean body mass, increased strength indexes and decreased fatigue after training sessions.
It contains more protein by weight than beef, fish or chicken, and contains less fat (especially saturated fat).
Other studies show that soy protein isolate has the ability to effectively lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, improve kidney functions, and the consumption of 25-50 grams of soy protein daily may indeed enhance production of thyroid stimulation hormones that regulate the metabolic rate (thereby making it easier for us to lose both body weight and fat).
Whey Protein (Try Top of the World Pro Formula Whey 24 Protein Powder)
Whey protein lacks no essential amino acids. As a result, it has a much higher biological value in terms of similarity to our own human protein. It needs no fortification or additive to make it complete. It is complete in its natural form.
Whey protein given to sedentary individuals does not give significant performance benefits; however, combined with resistance training, even those who have immunosuppressive disorders can increase body cell mass, muscle mass and muscle strength, according to a study in AIDS (15, 18:2431-40, 2001).
And in a trial appearing in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism (11, 3:349-64, 2001) whey-protein supplementation led to significant improvements in knee extension peak torque and lean tissue mass. "Whey protein is superior to other proteins when it comes to anabolic response," said Marcus C.C.W. Elliott, M.D., who created a muscle-conditioning and injury prevention program for the New England Patriots and is on the advisory board for Culver City, Calif.-based Cold Fusion Foods. "Whey protein has consistently been shown to stimulate the anabolic hormones after a workout."
It mixes well and is low in fat and lactose, and has a superior amino acid profile.
whey enhances the immune system because it raises glutathione levels. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps our immune cells stay charged to help ward off cancer, bacterial infection and viruses.
Whey is also very high in glutamine and the branch chain amino acids L-leucine, L-valine and L-isoleucine, important aminos for repairing muscle.
