Casein Protein Powder

How does this protein source measure up?

Should you be taking casein protein?

There have been many questions about casein powder and whether it is superior to whey protein.

The bottom line is that if you could only pick one.... choose whey protein.

Now, this doesn't mean casein doesn't have any of its own benefits.

There certainly are situations where casein may be better, but as an all around supplement, whey protein is probably one of the best muscle building supplements on the market.

The first difference between casein and whey is their biological value.

Casein has a biological value of 77, while whey protein has a biological value between 104 and 159.

Biological value is a measurement which determines the percentage of a nutrient source that is used by the body.

It shows how fast your body can use the protein.

For example, if you eat 30 grams of chicken, your body will not absorb all the protein right away.

How can there be a value over 100%?

Well, eggs are the best natural source of protein. They have a biological value in the 90s, so they are the 100% benchmark. Because whey protein is absorbed faster than eggs, it has a value above 100.

So your body does not use casein protein as fast as it uses/absorbes whey protein.

This is where the main distinction between the two sources of protein comes from. The rate of absorption is better in whey protein than casein.

This is why whey protein is recommended for your post workout nutrition. After working your muscles, you are able to feed them protein very fast.

So why would someone use Casein?

The fact that this type of protein is not digested as fast as other sources, does not mean it doesn't get absorbed. Quite the contrary. Because this moves slowly through your system, it is believed that more is used.

Another advantage is that casein has a solid amount of glutamine. Glutamine is the top amino acid, and has many health benefits. Learn more about l glutamine here.

For these two reasons; slow digestion and high glutamine content, casein is often recommended before you go to bed. Because it digests quite slowly, taking it before bed is ideal.

Also, before bed is another great time to take glutamine... so you're killing two birds with one stone.

Bottom line: The only time it is worth taking casein protein is when there will be a long time between meals. Hence "casein, the bodybuilder's bedtime snack".

Even though other sources are absorbed faster, you'll probably be eating every few hours, so apart from bedtime there might not be another good time to take casein supplements.

Product Recommendations:

I would recommend 100% Gold Standard Casein Protein.

It has gotten great reviews on taste, price, and quality.