Looking to add more protein to your diet?

lyfwithlisa
Apr 13
2 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

It’s a smart move since eating more protein can help you burn more calories (even at rest), build and repair muscle, and even reduce cravings.

But if you’re just adding a scoop of peanut butter to your smoothie for protein, you’re likely missing out on all those benefits…

Not All Protein Is Created Equal

Some protein sources are more bioavailable than others.

Bioavailability essentially means how well our bodies can use the protein. The higher the bioavailability of a protein, the better.

In general, plant sources of protein have a less favorable amino acid ratio (amino acids are the building blocks of protein - a “complete” protein has all the essential amino acids) and are less bioavailable than animal sources.

On the other hand, most animal protein sources - like meat - are more than 90% bioavailable!

But if you’re really looking to up your protein intake, there's another source you don’t want to miss out on…

The Most Bioavailable Protein Source?

High-quality whey protein is one of the most highly bioavailable sources of protein on earth, even more so than red meat!

In addition to being highly bioavailable, the amino acid composition of whey is especially beneficial. It’s rich in cysteine, which boosts levels of the “master antioxidant” glutathione.

Whey is also extremely rich in the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) - valine, leucine, and isoleucine, which are essential for muscle repair and growth.

This is why adding a high-quality whey protein is one of my first moves for a healthy, sustainable way to increase protein intake.

But Nothing’s Perfect…

High-quality whey protein is an amazing protein source.

But the key is “high-quality”...

So many whey supplements are made with milk from factory-farmed cattle, treated with high heat or chemical processes that can denature the proteins…

Then, they’re mixed with health-damaging artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners.

Nope, nope, and nope!

Instead, I look for three important qualities in my whey…

My Whey Protein Must-Haves

100% Grass Fed & Finished Cattle Milk: Milk from these cows is higher in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids.
No Chemical or High Heat Processing: It takes more time and effort, but whey can be separated through gentle, low-heat processes.
No Artificial Flavors, Sweeteners, or Added Sugar: You don’t need chemicals to make whey taste great - a bit of all-natural cocoa powder or vanilla is plenty!