Much of what we know about how protein affects our diets is in relation to dietary protein like steak, fish and eggs. However there is another form of protein, whey protein that generally comes in the form of protein powder, that can provide you with a significant amount of protein in your diet.

{This doesn’t have to be your fitness goal for protein powder & whey to work for you!}

Unfortunately many of us associate whey protein and protein powder with the demographic that most famously utilizes it; bodybuilders. For this reason millions of dieters stay away from protein under the mistaken belief that protein powder and why make you fat.

Keep reading to find out the truth about protein powder and if it really makes you fat!

What Is Whey Protein?

Whey protein is a protein powder derived from cow’s milk. Whey is the byproduct of cheese, produced once milk has been curdled then strained, which is why it has such a high percentage of protein. Whey protein is the most nutritious source of protein, which is why athletes rely on it to improve performance.

Why Protein Is Important

Protein is an essential daily nutrient for all of us. Protein plays a significant role in major body functions like repairing cells within the body, increases metabolic functions, repairs bones and muscles and finally, protein is a significant source of energy which is why it is so sought after by athletes.

{100% whey protein will not make you fat if taken with a well balanced diet.}

Now that you know why protein in and of itself is important, it should become clearer why performance athletes rely on whey protein. Because whey protein has a greater nutritional value than food sources of protein you consume, your body isn’t getting tons of fat with the protein as with food protein. For athletes and bodybuilders whey protein is superior to food protein because it is absorbed much faster than food protein.

So as you can see, whey protein powder provides a pure source of protein without the fat that other sources of protein have.

Does Protein Powder and Whey Make You Fat?

The simple answer to this question is NO, neither protein powder nor does whey make you fat.

To understand this you must understand the connection between calories and weight gain or weight loss. Because protein is the least fattening of the nutrients carbohydrates, fats & protein, it is an essential part of a weight loss diet. In fact one of the best things you can do to lose weight is reduce your carbohydrate intake and increase protein intake.

This is a healthy version of weight loss rather than the extreme Atkins version of eliminating carbs and eating an insane amount of protein. Many dieters have found that a whey protein powder shake for a snack to be more beneficial to weight loss than indulging in a carb-heavy snack.

Protein powder and whey can contribute to weight gain however if you simply add protein shakes to your diet without making any other dietary adjustments. Protein powder does have calories, one ounce has about 100 calories to be exact, with very little fat and sugar, unlike beef burger nutrition facts, which reveal 34% fat before the bun and fixings.

If you’re using whey protein and you haven’t made any other dietary changes, the unaccounted calories in protein powder can contribute to weight gain. To make the most of protein powder for weight loss, decrease the amount of calories you consume and burn more calories through exercise.

Exercise & Whey Protein Powder

Now that you know that protein powder and why don’t make you fat, it’s time to learn how whey protein can contribute to your weight loss efforts.

First, whey protein provides your body with essential amino acids that the body cannot produce on its own, and quality protein like whey protein is the only way to get them. But to understand how this can help with weight loss you have to understand why they’re important.

Whey protein is a great source of amino acids like valine, leucine and isoleucine, which you need in greater quantities if you’re physically active. Because successful weight loss requires physical activity, a whey protein shake after exercise can help stave off post-workout fatigue. In addition to this, protein builds and repairs your muscles and bones so they recover faster after exercise.

This can help improve your workout performance, which can lead to greater fat burning and weight loss.

Protein Powder & Weight Loss

Not only can protein powder after a workout help you recover faster, but a shake before your workout can make sure you burn fat during your workout rather than other nutrients. According to a study in the American Journal of Physiology, Endocrinology and Metabolism eating carbohydrates prior to exercise forces your body to burn sugar as energy rather than fat during exercise whereas whey helps burn fat.

The key to losing weight successfully is burning more calories than you consume and adding whey protein to your diet can increase fat burning during exercise.

Emerging studies from the University of Surrey in England point to whey as a way to improve satiety, which helps with appetite control. Participants in the study who drank a whey shake consumed fewer calories at a buffet than those who consumed an equal amount of casein. This study provides more good news for dieters concerned that protein powder and whey make you fat. In addition to greater fat burning during exercise, whey protein may also help with appetite control, another key factor is successful fat loss.

The next time someone tries to convince you that protein powder and whey make you fat, you can tell them they’re dead wrong and that whey can be a beneficial addition to any weight loss plan. Unless you increase your calorie intake or reduce your fat burning, whey actually contributes to weight loss.

It is important to note that some weight gain may occur as muscle mass increases, but that should not be confused with fat gain. Muscle gives your body a lean and toned look, so before you freak out take a long look at your body in the mirror.

Read our review of Eat Stop Eat to see how intermittent fasting can help you get on the right track with healthy weight loss.