Whey protein is a high quality protein derived from milk. It
has a high biological value and has become a popular sports nutrition
supplement.
Whey protein supplements (protein drinks, bars and supplements) are a
popular product in health food. Whilst the proteins in whey are good
for you, they may also contain lactose.
Both whey concentrate and whey isolate are made using similar filtration techniques. By varying the filtration process and timing, it is possible to vary the protein levels: typically concentrates are 75-85% and isolates are over 90% protein. Because of the additional processing, whey protein isolate has far less fat (0.5%) and lactose (0.5%).
Whey protein is a combination of a number of individual protein components: