Whey is the watery leftover liquid that is found when milk splits to form either cheese or yogurt. It is Rich in protein and is easily digested. In spite of its origin in dairy, whey is can be consumed by lactose intolerant people without problems, especially if it is Whey protein isolate. Whey has been a popular method of adding more protein into one’s diet for a while now. People who are into fitness, especially boxers, wrestlers and weightlifters, tend to use whey protein on a daily basis to help them strengthen their muscles. This makes it important to figure out which one is better than the other. The rise of organic products is no secret, with more and more people turning towards it for health reasons. Does the same apply towards something like whey protein? The answer is yes. Here’s why.
1. Animal Treatment
Regular whey comes from cows that have been raised in extremely confined spaces, fed supplemental grains meant to fatten them up at unnaturally faster rates and seen only for their commercial value rather than for the sentient beings that they are. It is a well-known fact that the quality of treatment makes a difference in the produce that reaches the consumer. Commercial cattle establishments tend to put cattle through a procedure that is often traumatizing for them, who are actually more intelligent than we think them to be. Organic whey, on the other hand, comes from cows that are allowed to feed on grass in pastures throughout the growing season, are brought up in humane conditions and are allowed to express their natural behavior patterns.
2. Corn vs. Grass
Cows have evolved to eat grass. However, most commercial cattle establishments choose to feed them corn and supplemental grains, as well as whatever else they can find, in order to save money. In fact, certain places have been found feeding cows candy and other poultry feed leftovers, things that are biologically inappropriate to be fed to cows. Natural whey protein powder comes from the milk of cows that have been brought up in conditions approved by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) as being organic.
3. Antibiotics
CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) often add antibiotics into the animal feed. This not only gives rise to antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can potentially spread to humans but reduces the amount of healthy fats and nutrients in the milk and, subsequently, the whey protein as well. Studies have shown that cows receiving antibiotic treatment during lactation tend to give out milk with substantial residues. This is particularly dangerous for the calves who end up drinking the milk, because they run the risk of either catching disease or excreting the bacteria, which could lead to disease among other animals, or even humans.
4. The Difference
All these put together make a slight difference in the health benefits of the produce that comes from cows. For starters, the healthy fats present in milk are relatively lesser in regular milk than in grass fed milk. In a typical can of regular whey, the amount of Omega-3 fats is lesser than in grass fed whey, and Omega-6, which has been linked to health problems and diseases, is found in higher quantities. The difference may be negligible when comparing only one can of each, but consumers of whey protein don’t only stick to one can. They consume several, potentially over several years, and that buildup can turn into something noticeable.
A lot of nutritionists are still debating over the real difference that grass fed whey can make to the health of a person consuming it. Those against the idea state that the health difference, if at all, is negligible and not worth the extra cost. However, the bigger difference is to the environment. Commercial cattle farming has so much cruelty attached to it, and this can be changed by switching to a product that promotes kindness.