Shakeology Dissected – Part I: Whey Isolate

So, what’s in Shakeology anyway?  We know it has the highest quality ingredients, including:

•    Protein and Essential Amino Acids to help build long, lean muscles and reduce food cravings
•    Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, which aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption
•    Antioxidants and Phytonutrients to help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases
•    Vitamins and Minerals your body needs to function for optimal health

But really, what’s in Shakeology?  The purpose of this series is to break down the ingredients in Shakeology and talk about the role each one plays in your nutrition.

Today, we start with the macronutrient protein.  Shakeology has protein in it. I know this is major news to you.  Greenberry contains 15g of protein and Chocolate contains 17g.  The form of protein is what I’d like to discuss.  Shakeology contains whey isolate.

Whey is a dairy based form of protein.  It comes from cheese production.  For many years it was considered a waste product and discarded, but we’ve now come to use it as one of the most common forms of protein powder.

There are really three kinds of whey protein powders: (1) concentrate; (2) isolate; and (3) hydrolysate.  Whey concentrate is the most commonly used form of whey because it is less expensive to produce than the other forms.  Concentrate is good because it is less processed, but it contains less protein.  Concentrate contains some fat and lactose, so people with dairy allergies probably want to steer clear of whey concentrate.  Whey isolate, the form used in Shakeology, contains much less lactose due to the processing it undergoes.  Isolate is also 90 to 94% pure protein, giving it additional benefits when compared to concentrate.  The final form of whey protein is hydrolysate.  This is a predigested form of whey that is relatively free of potential allergens.  It is also extremely expensive.  Given the minor benefits of hydrolysate, the cost rarely justifies its use.

So there you have it, the skinny on Shakeology and whey isolate.  As you can see, Beachbody could have cut corners and used concentrate, but instead chose to use whey isolate as its form of protein.  If you would like more information on Shakeology including a free sample contact me HERE.