With the benefits of casein protein becoming more evident, it’s no surprise that it’s now one of the most popular forms of protein powder throughout the fitness community.
With so many options available, it’s hard to know which is the best casein protein powder. I’ve taken a look at what’s out there and found the top products on the market. Read on to learn more.
Who Needs Casein Protein Powder?
We all know how beneficial weight training is. The health benefits are endless, so much so that what used to be seen as something solely for bodybuilders, is now part of your average mom’s gym session.
Of course when taken seriously, working out is only half the battle. Proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects when it comes to seeing results. A balanced diet and supplements where necessary are key for a strong, healthy body.
If you are looking to maximise your workout results, you seriously need to consider adding casein protein to your supplement list. Although whey protein is championed for its ability to digest quickly and aid fast muscle growth, caseins go slow approach also has a number of impressive benefits both in terms of working out and overall health.
Benefits of Casein Protein
When it comes to protein powders, whey is the standard go-to product. Its fast results are well publicized and known by not only elite athletes, but your average gym goer too.
Casein protein has long lived in the shadow of its milk derived cousin, however, much research has been conducted into the use of casein in comparison to whey.
Casein Protein Lasts Longer
Although we are told time and time again to use whey protein to get that quick fix of muscle building goodness right after a workout, this doesn’t help us retain lean muscle mass throughout the day. When you are on a low calorie diet, losing muscle along with fat is one of the biggest issues people face.
However, casein protein offers a slow and steady flow of amino acids through your bloodstream which can last for several hours. This means it can help you retain that lean muscle you have worked so hard to build.
Gives You Greater Gains
If your aim is to build muscles which would make Arnold Schwarzenegger jealous, research suggests that casein protein could be a key ingredient to your success.
In one study following men with a strict strength training regime over 10 weeks, the men who consumed a combination of both whey and casein protein gained a far higher amount of lean, fat free mass than those who used whey with BCAAs and glutamine supplements.
Improved Fat Loss
If you want to obtain a lean, muscular physique, you’re not only looking to get tickets to the gun show, but shed excess fat as you go along.
Recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that by doubling your casein intake before bed, you can raise your metabolic rate while you sleep as well as a 2.6% higher 24 hour metabolic rate. So if you fancy burning extra calories while you catch some Zs, adding casein protein to your diet could be the way forward.
Greater Strength
Regardless of whether you’re male or female, when it comes to weight training, getting strong is a major goal. Although you may not want to develop Hulk-like superhero strength, being able to carry your toddler and a bag of groceries without a struggle is always an advantage.
A recent study showed that due to its anti-catabolic abilities, casein protein doubled the effect whey protein had on shoulder, chest and leg strength.
Improved Colon Health
The health of your colon is seriously important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
Recently, Australian researchers studied the effects of different proteins on the body and results showed that casein protein had positive results on colon health. This is another great reason to make casein protein a regular appearance on your supplement shopping list.
Dental Protection
I don’t know anyone who can honestly say they enjoy a trip to the dentist. Having someone poke around for hours in your mouth is no one’s idea of fun. Plus the bill they give you at the end probably doesn’t help either.
Recent research conducted across the pond in the UK showed that casein protein could prevent the effects of enamel erosion. So if you just can’t kick that daily diet soda and want to protect your teeth, casein protein could help protect your pearly whites.
What is the Best Casein Protein Powder?
There are a number of products to choose from and it can often be hard to tell which manufacturer offers the best quality supplement. I have looked at the options available and chose five top casein protein powders I think will suit everyone.
Our Choice
For me the Optimum Nutrition product ticks all of the boxes on this one. It offers a low calorie, great tasting protein powder which has high doses of protein, BCAAs and glutamine in each scoop. I think for anyone looking to try casein protein, this would be an excellent option.
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