Whey and Lactose Intolerance

Whey is one of two proteins contained within cows milk, and is known to be the protein of highest nutritional value to humans.

There are two main types of whey protein, and this is to do with how the whey protein is refined. The type types of whey protein are ‘concentrate' and ‘isolate'. Whey protein ‘isolate' is usually of higher quality, containing less fat and more protein than ‘concentrate'. Whey protein ‘isolate' can contain anywhere between 90-98 percent protein whilst ‘concentrate' may have as little as 29 percent or as much as 89 percent.

Whey protein ‘isolate' also contains very little, if any, lactose, which is excellent news for those who are lactose intolerant.

Whey protein is extremely popular amongst athletes, particularly bodybuilders, for its muscle building properties. Whey, as the best protein for the body, can become lacking in people who have given up milk entirely therefore a substitute such as a whey powdered protein can be a great way to ensure your body doesn't miss out.

Before taking whey protein it is a good idea to ensure you are in fact lactose intolerant, and not in fact.

Before making whey protein a part of your diet it is important to ensure lactose intolerance is in fact your problem, and not milk allergy. There are many different kinds of proteins in milk which form two main groups, Whey protein and Casein protein. One of the proteins belonging to the Whey group can very often be the cause of milk allergies. The symptoms of milk allergies can in turn be very similar to those of lactose intolerance, so by ruling out any allergy to milk first, there is absolutely no reason why usage of whey and lactose intolerance should conflict.