There are a range of products and foods used as bodybuilding supplements but over the last decade the use of whey protein has dominated the sports nutrition market.

After intense exercise your body’s protein is depleted and if this situation is not addressed it will start to eat its own natural stores which are situated in your muscles. So how exactly does whey protein prevent this from happening and work as an excellent bodybuilding supplement?

Well, whey protein is argued to be the best quality protein you can consume because it’s completely devoid of any cholesterol and has a very high biological value. A protein’s biological value is the measure of how much of it the body will retain and actually use after it is ingested. Because whey protein’s biological value is so high, more often than not 100% of it is used in the rebuilding of lean muscle tissue and very little is ever wasted.

It rebuilds this muscle tissue by providing essential amino acids which react with carbohydrates. A protein is any chain of amino acids and whey protein particularly is a source of branched chain amino acids which are used to fuel working muscles and stimulate protein synthesis. This occurs because amino acids are tiny molecules that act as the building blocks of any cell and these combine with the carbohydrates which supply your cells with energy. So while the amino acids provide cells with the building material they need to grow and maintain their structure, the carbohydrates supply the energy with which to actually do this. Together they react and protein is synthesised which quickly reforms bodybuilders’ muscle tissue, making whey protein perfect for sports nutrition.

The body requires more carbohydrates to digest protein that any other food group and as a result bodybuilders will burn a lot more calories after eating a protein filled meal. However whey protein is frequently referred to as a ‘fast’ protein for its ability to swiftly provide nourishment to the well-worked muscles and hence why it’s become so popular as a bodybuilding supplement.

Its taste is much to be desired but you can add whey protein to a wide variety of foods and beverages to increase the protein content without affecting their flavour. In addition healthy sports nutrition practices have been shown to play a role in helping to manage, and possibly prevent, the onset of type-2 diabetes. Whey protein, being of such high biological value, is a good choice for diabetic athletes who need to carefully manage their food intake whilst exercising and taking a bodybuilding supplement.